US Vice President JD Vance (2dn R) listens as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) speaks during a meeting at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem on October 22, 2025. AFP
Rubio is expected to arrive in Israel on Thursday for a two-day visit, according to Israeli media reports.
An Israeli official said Rubio’s visit would be formally announced later on Wednesday and would focus on supporting the implementation of President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan.
Meanwhile, Israel’s public broadcaster reported that Vance is set to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to discuss the second phase of the Gaza agreement.
On Tuesday, Vance inaugurated the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) for Gaza reconstruction, saying implementation of President Trump’s Gaza plan is progressing “better than expected.”
During a visit to the centre in southern Israel, Vance emphasized that the US support force at the CMCC will play a logistical role only, adding that no American troops will be deployed on the ground in Gaza.
He also noted that the US has not set a deadline for Hamas’ disarmament, a key clause in the ceasefire agreement, to avoid complicating the implementation process.
Vance was joined at a press conference by Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law Jared Kushner, both key US architects of the deal. The pair are in Israel this week as the administration begins working on the longer-term objectives of the president’s 20-point peace plan for the region.
While there, Witkoff told Israeli officials that the country’s response to violence from Hamas needs to be proportionate to the violation, an Israeli source familiar with the matter told CNN.
Witkoff also emphasized that the next 30 days are crucial for the deal to hold and for talks to enter the second phase, the source said.
That phase includes controversial provisions related to Hamas’ disarmament, Gaza’s administration, and the deployment of an international stabilization force, though no timeline has been set for its implementation.
Some of these clauses have raised concerns among mediators and drawn resistance from Hamas.
UN mandate
Despite discussions about a potential multinational force, sources from Al Arabiya at the United Nations said an agreement on forming such a force remains “distant,” emphasizing that any deployment would require a UN mandate. France and the UK are reportedly drafting a resolution to authorize it.
Other possible contributors include Turkish forces, which could assist in Gaza’s reconstruction, an idea strongly opposed by Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu has described any Turkish involvement as a “red line,” according to Israel’s Channel 14.
Nevertheless, discussions between US and Israeli officials regarding Turkey’s possible role are ongoing.
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