Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha touched down in Israel for urgent, high-level talks Tuesday — as the US tries to shore up the shaky Gaza cease-fire deal.
The veep and second lady arrived at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport ahead of his sit-down with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials.
Vance didn’t make any official remarks on his arrival.
Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance arriving at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on Oct. 21, 2025. Photo by NATHAN HOWARD/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Vance getting greeted in Tel Aviv by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter and Israel’s Minister of Justice Yariv Levin (left to right). Getty Images
Vance is in Israel to meet with US envoys and military experts overseeing the cease-fire brokered by the Trump administration between Hamas and the Jewish state last week. POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesAfter being greeted by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and other officials, Vance met with White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The vice president, who is expected to stay in the region until Thursday, is also slated to meet with the families of hostages whose bodies still haven’t been released during his visit.
The high-level talks come as Washington tries to stabilize the first phase of the cease-fire deal — and push Israel and Hamas towards the harder concessions asked of each side.
Both sides have accused each other of repeatedly violating the cease-fire since it was formally agreed upon on Oct. 10. but have insisted they are committed to the deal.
President Trump, for his part, has made it clear that the 20-point plan he brokered has to succeed.
A senior Israeli official said the purpose of Vance’s trip was to advance the Gaza talks to the second phase of the cease-fire.
Under the terms of the cease-fire, Israel is still waiting for Hamas to turn over the remains of 15 hostages. Thirteen have been turned over since the cease-fire began.
Israel, meanwhile, handed back another 15 Palestinian bodies on Tuesday, officials said.
With Post wires
