Senior American officials delivered a stark message to Israel last week, emphasizing that the "next 30 days of the ceasefire agreement are crucial" to the success of the U.S.-brokered truce in Gaza, an Israeli source has informed The Times of Israel.
The warning underscores Washington's significant investment in maintaining the fragile cessation of hostilities, even as the agreement faces strain from ongoing violations by Hamas.
Call for Proportional Response
The primary concern conveyed by the American delegation centers on Israel's operational response to potential breaches of the agreement.
"That’s why they want Israel to respond in a proportionate manner," the Israeli source explained, referring specifically to any violations committed by Hamas. The message urges Israeli restraint, aiming to prevent escalation that could derail the broader diplomatic process.
The urgency was amplified by the recent presence of top White House officials in Israel, including Vice President JD Vance. Their mission was explicitly to secure the longevity of the ceasefire, even following a deadly Hamas attack on IDF troops and the terror group's failure to return all the remains of slain hostages as negotiated.
