Gaza ceasefire hangs in limbo, Vance in Israel – DW – 10/21/2025

The UN World Food Program (WFP) says food distribution into Gaza has increased since the US-brokered ceasefire, but remains well below the target of 2,000 metric tons per day, as only two border crossings are currently open and none in the famine-hit north.

According to WFP, about 750 metric tons of food is entering the Gaza Strip daily, but this figure is far below what is needed after the two-year war between Israel and Hamas has devastated the territory and left much of its population homeless.

“It is vital to maintain the ceasefire. In fact, this is the only way we can save lives and tackle the famine in the north of Gaza,” WFP Middle East spokesperson Abeer Atefa told reporters in Geneva. “We know this is a fragile ceasefire; the most important thing is that it lasts.

Etefa said 530 WFP trucks have entered the area of ​​about 2.4 million people since the ceasefire began, and have brought more than 6,700 tons of food. He said this is “enough for two weeks for about five lakh people.”

“Convoys are moving, food is reaching warehouses and distribution is happening in an orderly and dignified manner,” he said.

“To be able to reach this scale, we have to use every border crossing point right now,” WFP spokesman Abeer Atefa told reporters in Geneva.

US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Israel on Tuesday on a mission to strengthen the fragile US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

“Welcome to Israel, Vice President Vance,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry posted on social media, sharing a photo of Vance and his wife Usha disembarking from the plane. “Together, the Promised Land and the Land of the Free can secure a better future, including the release of the remaining 15 hostages,” the ministry said.

Vance is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, top US Middle East envoys and military officials overseeing the ceasefire. He will hold a news conference in Jerusalem on Tuesday evening and meet with the families of both the dead hostages still held in Gaza, as well as those released last week.

A senior Israeli official said Vance’s visit was aimed at moving Gaza talks into the second phase of a ceasefire.

The visit comes amid renewed tensions after deadly violence over the weekend, casting doubt on the sustainability of the ceasefire. Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire – disputes over delays in returning bodies of hostages, delivering aid and reopening border crossings.

You join us as U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance arrives in Israel as Washington seeks to strengthen the United States’ weak role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas.

Vance is set to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US envoys and military officials before holding a news conference in Jerusalem.

He will also meet hostage families as talks move into the second phase of the ceasefire.

Read on as DW brings you the latest reports, explainers and analysis on developments in the Middle East.