Washington: US Vice President JD Vance said despite the role it played in reaching the new Gaza ceasefire deal, the US has no plans to deploy American troops to Gaza or Israel. "We're not planning to put boots on the ground," Vance told NBC in an interview that aired Sunday, adding that this applies to both Gaza and Israel.
According to Anadolu Agency, Vance emphasized that the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which covers the Middle East, will oversee the terms of the ceasefire and ensure the flow of humanitarian aid. Vance also mentioned that many majority-Muslim countries have offered to send troops to the region to secure Gaza, making the deployment of American troops unnecessary. He expressed confidence that the ceasefire deal has ended the war in Gaza but acknowledged that significant efforts are required to maintain the peace.
Vance indicated that the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza could be released 'any moment now,' ahead of a Monday deadline. He noted that it is difficult to predict the exact timing of the release but expressed optimism that President Trump will greet the hostages at the upcoming peace summit in Egypt. He mentioned that 20 living hostages are expected to be released in the next 24 hours.
The summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, co-chaired by President Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi with over 20 countries attending, aims to end the war in the Gaza Strip and promote peace and stability in the Middle East. The meeting intends to usher in a new phase of regional security and stability, according to the Egyptian presidency.
Last month, President Trump unveiled a 20-point ceasefire plan for Gaza. The plan includes the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire Gaza Strip. The second phase of the plan involves establishing a new governing mechanism in Gaza without Hamas' participation, forming a security force made up of Palestinians and troops from Arab and Islamic countries, and disarming Hamas. It also calls for Arab and Islamic funding for the new administration and the reconstruction of the strip, with limited participation from the Palestinian Authority.
The formation of the security force is expected to be a topic of discussion during the summit in Egypt. Arab countries are pushing for the UN Security Council to set the force's mandate, a move opposed by Israel, which argues it would restrict its military freedom of action. While Arab and Muslim countries largely welcome the plan, officials acknowledge that many details require further discussion and negotiation for full implementation.
Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of over 67,600 Palestinians in the enclave, most of whom were women and children, rendering the area largely uninhabitable.