The goal of American "Bibisitters" is to maintain the Israel-Hamas truce.

On Wednesday, Vice President Vance travels to Jerusalem to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Vance is one of several prominent American officials in Israel who are supporting the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Israel's Tel Aviv — Vice President Vance acknowledged the difficulties in attempting to completely end the war, but he said on Wednesday that the Israel-Hamas ceasefire is holding. After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Vance stated, "We have a very tough task ahead of us, which is to disarm Hamas but rebuild Gaza." Vance is among a prominent U.S. team in Israel this week tasked with maintaining the truce's momentum and attempting to carry it into a more difficult second phase. In Israel, Netanyahu is commonly referred to as "Bibi." This American contingent is being referred to by the Israeli media as the "Bibisitters."

Vance is joined by Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. This week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also anticipated. Netanyahu, for his part, called the meeting with Vance a "opportunity to make decisions jointly in a very tight-knit and trusted partnership." U.S. officials are not anticipated to meet with Hamas during the extensive discussions that the Americans are having with the Israelis. Contact is forbidden because the U.S. considers Hamas to be a terrorist organisation.

But the truce's so-called Phase 2 addresses more challenging issues. There is currently no government in Gaza, and it is unclear when one will be established. The ceasefire agreement states that Hamas will not participate in a future government because the organization's leadership was destroyed during the conflict.