Vance says Gaza ceasefire holding up 'better than expected'
發佈日期: 2025-10-22 21:05
TVB News
US Vice President JD Vance has called progress in Gaza's fragile ceasefire better than anticipated, but acknowledged during an Israel visit the challenges that remain, from disarming Hamas to rebuilding a land devastated by two years of war.
Meanwhile, two more bodies of deceased Israeli hostages have been returned.
Another convoy bringing remains into the Forensic Institute in Tel Aviv, as Israel police perform their now customary salute.
Palestinian group Hamas has now returned the bodies of 15 deceased hostages, with another 13 still being recovered.
They were identified as Tamir Adar, 38, and 85-year-old Arie Zalmanovich, who reportedly died five weeks after being taken on October 7, 2023.
Hamas says it is committed to the terms of the ceasefire and must dig through tonnes of rubble to find the other bodies.
In the occupied West Bank, settlers gave a rapturous welcome to 32-year-old Avinatan Or, who was among the 20 living hostages released by Hamas this month.
Or was taken at the Nova music festival on October 7, along with his girlfriend Noa Argamani, who was rescued by Israeli forces in Gaza in June, 2024.
In Khan Younis, southern Gaza, the Red Cross delivered the bodies of 15 Palestinians to the Nasser Hospital.
This woman holds a document confirming she received a body.
Walid al-Gharably said he was able to identify his son. We were able to recognise him from distinctive marks on his body, like his teeth, he had some surgery, his clothes and his form, he said.
US Vice President JD Vance is in Israel in a bid to ensure both sides adhere to the terms, saying the ceasefire is going better than expected.
"I'm not going to give you a percentage," said Vance. "But look, what we've seen in the past week gives me great optimism the ceasefire is going to hold. And if we get from where we were a week ago to a long-term, durable peace between Israel and Gaza, there are going to be hills and valleys. There are going to be moments where it looks like things aren't going particularly well. But given that, and given the history of conflict, I think that everybody should be proud of where we are today."
Meanwhile, as agencies continue clean-up operations in Gaza, the United Nations Development Programme is ramping up its delivery of safe drinking water and management of solid waste.
Access to water is a major challenge, with desalination plants lacking fuel and Gaza's aquifers polluted by sewage and rubble.
The strain on water supply has only fuelled the rampant spread of disease.
