Numerous senior U.S. officials continue to descend on Israel to keep tabs on the fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed in Israel Thursday to oversee the ceasefire, with Israeli media dubbing the frequent visits “Bibisitting” duty, according to the WSJ. The visits were reportedly coordinated among the various officials and not at the specific direction of President Donald Trump.
So far, the ceasefire has largely held despite brief clashes between Hamas and Israel and reported executions of the terrorist group’s rivals in Gaza. All living hostages have been returned to Israel while Hamas continues to return the remains of the deceased.
In addition to media outlets in Israel and the United States, CNN reported that a U.S. official also used the term “Bibisitting” to describe the visits. It’s a label Vance pushed back on when speaking to reporters.
Vance said at a press conference Wednesday that his visit was not to “monitor a toddler,” but more to ensure that the long-awaited ceasefire continued to bear fruit. Trump administration officials have reportedly privately urged Netanyahu to limit strikes in Gaza to ensure the ceasefire holds, according to the WSJ.
Israel recently struck targets in southern Gaza after Hamas allegedly fired on Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). However, Hamas denied involvement in the attack, and no injuries were reported on either side.
Vance also railed against the Israeli Knesset’s vote on a bill moving to formally annex the West Bank, saying the move was an “insult” and a “political stunt.” Rubio also warned the Knesset on Wednesday that such a vote could potentially jeopardize the ceasefire.
Netanyahu’s office also called the vote a “deliberate political provocation” by the prime minister’s opposition. All but one Likud Party MP abstained from the vote.
The Israeli leader has repeatedly tested the Trump administration’s patience, with Trump reportedly admonishing Netanyahu after the PM expressed skepticism about the initial Hamas acceptance of Trump’s peace deal.
“You’re always so fucking negative,” Trump reportedly said.
While it remains uncertain whether or not Hamas will relinquish power over the Gaza Strip as stipulated in Trump’s plan, Principal Deputy State Department Spokesperson Tommy Pigott told the Daily Caller News Foundation on Thursday the meetings in Israel represent a “collective effort” to implement the deal.
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss our collective effort to implement President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Conflict in Gaza,” Pigott told DCNF. “Secretary Rubio and Prime Minister Netanyahu affirmed the strategic relationship between the U.S. and Israel and discussed opportunities to further regional integration.”
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