(MENAFN) U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Tuesday that the ceasefire in Gaza remains intact, even as Israel launched fresh airstrikes across the enclave.

“The president achieved a historic peace in the Middle East, the ceasefire is holding. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t going to be little skirmishes here and there,” Vance said in an interview. He noted that an Israeli soldier was recently attacked by Hamas or another group in Gaza, adding, “we expect the Israelis are going to respond — but I think the president's peace is going to hold."

The comments came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the military “to immediately carry out forceful strikes” in Gaza, accusing Hamas of violating the truce. Reports confirmed that multiple areas across the territory were hit by air and artillery fire.

The ceasefire has been in effect since October 10 under U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, which includes the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and the reconstruction of Gaza under a new administrative framework.

Since October 2023, Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed more than 68,000 people, the majority of them women and children, and injured over 170,000 others, according to reports.

MENAFN29102025000045017640ID1110263005