U.S. Vice President JD Vance today utilized advanced military technology to gain an immersive perspective on the conflict, employing a virtual reality (VR) system to "observe" the Gaza Strip during a high-level visit to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) headquarters at the Kirya base.
The VR session served as a prelude to a tense intelligence and policy meeting with Defense Minister Israel Katz and senior Israeli officials, where Vance later delivered a sharp rebuke of Israeli ambitions to annex Judea and Samaria.
Immersive Briefing on Gaza Operations
Sources within the Israeli Defense Ministry confirmed that Vice President Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance were given access to the specialized virtual reality system upon their arrival at the Kirya. The system provided a detailed visual overview of the Gaza Strip, setting the stage for the subsequent policy discussion.
Following the VR observation, Vance received a comprehensive intelligence briefing focusing on Israel’s core objectives in the ongoing conflict: The efforts to bring back the fallen hostages; the disarmament of Hamas and the long-term demilitarization of Gaza.
Defense Minister Katz affirmed Israel's commitment to these aims during the meeting, telling Vance that
Israel is "committed to bringing back all the fallen hostages, to disarming Hamas, and to ensuring a better future for the region.”
The Israeli delegation included key security and diplomatic figures, notably Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and Military Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder. Vance was accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and US CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper.
