Vice President JD Vance visits the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during his trip to Israel, calling it an "amazing blessing" and a "very special moment."

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance sought Wednesday to ease concerns in Israel that the Trump administration was dictating terms to its closest ally in the Middle East, as he and other top U.S. envoys visit Israel this week to support the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Defense Minister Israel Katz added that demolishing the tunnels is the most important joint mission in demobilizing Gaza in accordance with Trump's ceasefire plan. More than 60% of Hamas tunnels were left undestroyed during the war,

Vice President JD Vance attends private mass and confession at Church of the Holy Sepulchre during his trip to Israel.

A reporter asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Vice President JD Vance during Vance's visit this week to Jerusalem whether the U.S. pressuring Israel to make a peace deal with Hamas makes it an American "vassal state or protectorate.

Vice President JD Vance left Israel on Thursday with an optimistic note, saying Rafah, a city in the Gaza strip, could be rebuilt in two to three years.

Vice President JD Vance, who was on the second day of a visit to Israel, said recent trips to the country by top American officials were intended to shore up the fragile Gaza truce.