Rubio Pushes Gaza Plan; Vance Rules Out Ground Troops

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel to press implementation of President Trump’s Gaza peace plan, calling its execution a top priority and reaffirming America’s commitment to Israel’s security. He met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem; both acknowledged progress but warned of substantial obstacles while discussing a transitional Gaza administration of Palestinian technocrats under international supervision, planned Hamas disarmament, and Gaza reconstruction. Rubio’s work is being coordinated with prior U.S. envoys, including Vice President J.D. Vance, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. Vance, who earlier visited the U.S.–Israel coordination center in Kiryat Gat, voiced guarded optimism that the fragile ceasefire can hold but reiterated the United States will not send ground troops to Gaza or force Israel to accept foreign forces and warned that Hamas noncompliance could prompt severe consequences. The visits followed a Knesset first vote on applying Israeli sovereignty to West Bank settlements that U.S. officials, including Vance, called an "insult" to peace efforts, highlighting political obstacles to implementing the ceasefire and broader plan.