TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Israel on Tuesday to shore up the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza that has teetered over the past few days following a burst of deadly violence and questions over how to move forward with the plan for cementing a long-term peace.

The vice president was the latest U.S. official to meet with the Israeli PM since a flare-up in violence threatened the truce. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was set to follow Friday.

Vice President Vance told reporters on the tarmac as he prepared to fly home from a several-day trip to Israel, that "for all of the issues and all the problems right now, I think we can say with confidence that Israel is respecting the ceasefire,

Vice President JD Vance urged "patience" as Israel waits for the return of all the hostages' remains from Hamas.

JD Vance slams Israeli lawmakers' West Bank annexation vote as "very stupid political stunt" during his visit, reaffirming Trump policy against annexation.

The vice president said that while he can't have "100% certainty that it's going to work," he has "great optimism the ceasefire is going to hold."

After Israel-Hamas clashes test Trump's Gaza peace deal, his top negotiators return to the region to shore up the ceasefire.

Trump sends a flurry of top officials and aides to Israel - led by his vice president - to make sure a Gaza ceasefire moves on to challenging second phase.