US Vice President JD Vance has canceled a planned visit to Israel over concerns that his presence could be seen as supporting expanded Israeli military operations in Gaza.
Vance canceled a planned stop in Israel after a visit to Rome because he was concerned that his visit could imply Washington’s support for Israel’s decision to escalate the conflict at a time when the US is advocating a ceasefire, a senior US official told Axios.
The Trump administration had previously informed Israeli officials on Saturday of Vance’s possible visit after attending the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, according to sources in Israel.
While a White House official later said the visit was canceled due to “logistical constraints,” another US official told Axios that logistics were not the real reason. Officials feared the visit could be seen as an endorsement of an increased Israeli offensive, both in Israel and in neighboring countries.
Similarly, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also canceled a planned visit to Israel last Monday, and the administration said he would instead join President Donald Trump on a trip to the Middle East.
The diplomatic changes come as Israel launched “Operation Gideon’s Chariot” on Sunday, a major ground offensive across Gaza using regular and reserve forces.
Since March 2, Israel has blocked humanitarian aid to Gaza, further exacerbating an already dire crisis. The military campaign has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians since October 2023.
Israel faces genocide charges before the International Court of Justice, while the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gallant for war crimes in Gaza.
