The implementation of a Gaza ceasefire agreement is going better than expected and the truce can hold, US Vice-President JD Vance has said during a visit to Israel.
Vance also warned that if Hamas does not co-operate, it will be obliterated, while refusing to give a deadline for when the Palestinian group must disarm - a part of US proposals yet to be agreed.
US President Donald Trump, who brokered the ceasefire deal earlier this month, said America's great allies in the Middle East would be ready to go into Gaza with a heavy force and 'straighten out Hamas' if Hamas continues to act badly.
Vance's visits come after a flare-up of violence on Sunday that threatened to derail the 12-day-old truce.
Israel said a Hamas attack killed two soldiers, triggering Israeli air strikes which killed dozens of Palestinians.
Trump wrote on social media that there is still hope that Hamas will do what is right, adding: If they do not, an end to Hamas will be FAST, FURIOUS, & BRUTAL!
Vance is expected to push Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to start negotiations on long-term issues for a permanent end to the war with Hamas during his visit.
The vice-president praised Israel for being remarkably helpful in moving towards the deal's main goals, but said that a lot of hard work remained ahead to secure further steps.
The two special US envoys who helped negotiate the ceasefire deal, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, appeared alongside Vance at a news briefing in southern Israel.
After the recent violence, fears were raised about the feasibility of continuing the ceasefire, but Vance expressed strong support for Israel while emphasizing the importance of cooperation for lasting peace.
Moving forward, all sides will have to navigate a complex situation marked by historical grievances, immediate humanitarian needs, and international diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilizing the region.
