The Knesset is Israel’s parliament, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu having control over the majority in the Knesset. Netanyahu chose to keep the vote, opting to avoid confrontation, but did order his party members not to vote on either bill.

Before boarding a plane for Israel, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that U.N. backing was a potential next step to deploying an international stabilization force to the war-torn enclave.

Several top U.S. officials are in Israel to shore up the Gaza ceasefire and attempt to bring about a permanent end to the war. They acknowledge the next phase poses serious challenges.

Vice President JD Vance declined to be drawn on how long Hamas would have before the US took action to force the Islamist movement to disarm as part of the Gaza cease fire agreement. "If Hamas doesn't comply with the deal,

The back-to-back visits by Mr. Vance and Mr. Rubio underscore the administration’s keen interest in preserving the cease-fire. Steve Witkoff, Mr. Trump’s Middle East envoy, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, have also been in Israel this week.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Vice President JD Vance criticized Thursday Israel’s parliament vote on West Bank annexation, saying it amounted to an “insult” and went against the Trump administration policies and efforts to ensure that the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas holds in Gaza.

"We have to be a little bit flexible. I think what you're seeing from our Gulf Arab friends, certainly from our Israeli friends, is a certain amount of impatience with Hamas."

Vice President JD Vance met with Israeli Prime Minister after arriving in Israel earlier in the week to try and stabilize the first phase of the ceasefire.