Vice President JD Vance delivered a stern message to Hamas on Tuesday while addressing journalists in southern Israel at the newly established Civilian Military Cooperation Center (CMCC), a pivotal element in the recent ceasefire agreement.
“The 20-point plan presented by the president is unequivocal,” Vance stated. “It has the backing not only of Israel but also of all our allies in the Gulf. The plan demands that Hamas disarm and adhere to the terms. While the fighters may be granted some form of clemency, they cannot turn on each other or harm their fellow Palestinians.”
Vance expressed optimism, saying, “Standing here today, I am confident that we are moving towards a sustainable peace. Should Hamas fail to comply, as the United States has made clear, their existence will be in jeopardy.”
President Donald Trump has also called on Hamas to swiftly engage with a U.S.-facilitated peace initiative designed to resolve the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The vice president’s comments followed a stark warning from President Trump, who cautioned that any failure on Hamas’s part to honor the agreement would lead to a response that would be “swift, decisive, and devastating.”
During a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday, Trump reiterated that the obliteration of Hamas would be inevitable if it reneged on the deal. This warning echoes similar statements from the president since the peace agreement was put into effect last week.
In addition to his warning to Hamas, Vance scolded the media over its apparent “desire to root for failure,” saying that any setbacks or hiccups did not necessarily mean the end of the deal.
“Every time something bad happens and every time that there’s an act of violence, there’s this inclination to say, ‘Oh, this is the end of the ceasefire. This is the end of the peace plan.’ It’s not the end. It is, in fact, exactly how this is going to have to happen when you have people who hate each other, who have been fighting against each other for a very long time. We are doing very well. We are in a very good place,” Vance said before praising the team working to implement the Gaza deal.
Vice President JD Vance speaks during a press conference following a military briefing at the Civilian Military Coordination Center in southern Israel on Oct. 21, 2025. (Nathan Howard/Pool via Reuters)
While Vance demanded that Hamas disarm in accordance with the deal, he refused to give the terrorist organization an exact deadline, something Trump has not done either.
“The president actually put out a Truth [Social] this morning that I thought was very instructive. We know that Hamas has to comply with the deal, and if Hamas doesn’t comply with the deal, very bad things are going to happen. But I’m not going to do what the President of the United States has thus far refused to do, which is put an explicit deadline on it, because a lot of this stuff is difficult. A lot of this stuff is unpredictable,” the vice president said.
The opening of the CMCC is a major milestone in the implementation of the historic deal. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), attended the news conference.
“Two hundred of America’s sons and daughters, who wear the cloth of the nation, have stepped up and are serving here,” Cooper said. “I just couldn’t be prouder.”
Jared Kushner was also in attendance at the news conference, where he spoke about plans for Gaza reconstruction and the efforts currently underway in the ceasefire deal. Kushner noted that there was “surprisingly strong coordination between the United Nations and Israel” on efforts to get aid to Palestinians in the enclave.
Kushner also said that progress was being made towards getting back the remains of all deceased hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli hostages released in the Trump-brokered ceasefire deal met with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. (The Hostages and Missing Families Forum)
Prior to Vance’s arrival in Israel, several hostages who were freed as part of the historic deal brokered by the Trump administration met with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Kushner. The meeting included Omri Miran, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Yosef Chaim Ohana, Matan Angrest, Bar Kupershtein, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen and Eitan Horn.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said the former hostages thanked Witkoff and Kushner and expressed “profound gratitude to President Trump for making their freedom a top priority and working tirelessly to ensure their release after more than two years in captivity.”
When speaking at the CMCC, Witkoff said the meeting was an “emotional moment” and that he felt “blessed to be in that room.”
“I didn’t see any victims in that room. I saw strong people who have come out under very difficult circumstances. Their families are reunited, and they are so grateful,” Witkoff said.
Vice President JD Vance speaks during a press conference following a military briefing at the Civilian Military Coordination Center in southern Israel on Oct. 21, 2025. (Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images)
In his closing remarks, Vance expressed his trust in God’s providence and said he believed the job could be done.
“I know that Christians have many titles for Jesus Christ, and one of them is the Prince of Peace. And I’d ask all people of faith, in particular my fellow Christians, to pray that the Prince of Peace can continue to work a miracle in this region of the world. I think that we have made incredible strides over the past week. We’re going to have to make a lot more. But I think with your prayers, with God’s providence and with a very good team behind me, I think we’re gonna get it done,” Vance said.
The vice president said that while in Israel, he hopes to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which Christians believe is the site where Jesus Christ was crucified.
