U.S. Vice President JD Vance has rejected accusations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza but expressed sorrow over the suffering of innocent civilians, especially children, caught in the ongoing conflict.
On the This Past Weekend with Theo Von podcast last week, Vance responded to emotionally charged footage from Gaza that Von described as “horrific,” saying, “I see these videos, I see the pictures, and it’s very heartbreaking.”
Vance emphasized the need to view the conflict fairly: “On the one hand, you’ve got innocent Palestinians, and innocent Israeli hostages, caught up in this terrible violence. On the other side, Israel is attacked by a terrible terrorist organization.”
He added that the Trump administration remains committed to providing aid to Palestinians while ensuring Israel’s right to defend itself.
“What we’re trying to do is get to a peaceful resolution that gives Israel confidence Hamas won’t attack them again, while also getting as much aid and support to Palestinians as possible,” he explained.
While avoiding a broader political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Vance criticized extreme rhetoric from both sides.
“I’ve seen people on the left who completely ignore innocent Israelis killed in the Hamas terrorist attack,” he said.
“And some on the right who ignore the suffering of innocent Palestinian kids. If you have a soul, your heart should break when you see a little kid who’s suffering.”
Podcast host Theo Von accused the U.S. of complicity in what he called a “genocide” by sending weapons to Israel.
Vance pushed back: “Here’s the reason why I don’t think it’s genocide: I don’t think the Israelis are purposely trying to go in and murder every Palestinian. They got hit hard, and they’re trying to destroy a terrorist organization. War is hell.”
He also defended Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s special envoy to the Middle East, amid criticism from some Republicans and pro-Israel voices who have accused Witkoff of not being “pro-Israel enough.”
According to Vance, the Trump administration’s priority is to “stop the conflict, eliminate the source of the conflict, and bring peace and humanitarian assistance to people who desperately need it.”
Despite U.S. support for Israel’s rejection of a permanent ceasefire, the administration has sought a temporary truce, an effort stalled after Hamas deemed it insufficient.
Vance concluded by criticizing the Biden administration’s foreign policy approach, especially regarding Ukraine, stating, “What people should demand is that if our tax dollars are going to something, we should be actively trying to fix it.”