TEL AVIV, Israel — U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to address concerns regarding the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Vance's visit comes as part of a broader effort by U.S. officials to support the ceasefire and reassure Israel that the Trump administration is not imposing its will on the country.

"We don’t want in Israel a vassal state, and that’s not what Israel is. We want a partnership, we want an ally," Vance stated during a press conference alongside Netanyahu. This comment was made in response to questions about whether Israel was becoming a "protectorate" of the United States. Netanyahu echoed Vance's sentiments, dismissing the notion that either country controls the other. "One week they say that Israel controls the United States. A week later they say the United States controls Israel. This is hogwash," he said.

Concerns have arisen in Israel regarding the potential deployment of an international security force in Gaza, which could restrict the Israeli military's actions if it perceives threats. Vance acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, "We have a very, very tough task ahead of us, which is to disarm Hamas but rebuild Gaza to make life better for the people in Gaza, but also to ensure that Hamas is no longer a threat to our friends in Israel. That’s not easy."

During his visit, Vance also met with families of Israeli hostages. He was accompanied by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu on Friday.

Uncertainty remains regarding the next steps in the ceasefire plan, particularly concerning the governance of Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas. Vance mentioned that discussions are ongoing about the composition of the international security force, with countries like Turkey and Indonesia expected to contribute troops. Meanwhile, Israel announced the identification of two more hostages killed during the October 7 attack by Hamas militants, bringing the total number of identified hostages returned since the ceasefire began to 15.

In Gaza, the Health Ministry reported that Israel returned the bodies of 30 Palestinians, increasing the total number of bodies returned to 195. Of these, only 57 have been identified by families. Funeral prayers were held for 54 Palestinians outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where mourners gathered to pay their respects.

Additionally, a Palestinian mental health organization reported an armed takeover of one of its facilities in Gaza City last week. The Gaza Community Mental Health Program stated that an unidentified armed group stormed the facility, expelled guards, and occupied the building. The organization has called for immediate intervention from authorities.

As the situation continues to evolve, Israelis are preparing to bid farewell to Sonthaya Oakkharasri, a Thai farmworker killed during the October 7 attack. His body was returned to Israel last weekend, and a memorial service is planned at Ben Gurion Airport.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting over 68,000 Palestinian deaths since the outbreak of hostilities, a figure disputed by Israel without providing its own count. The humanitarian situation remains critical as efforts to stabilize the region continue.