U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged on Saturday to ensure the return of all deceased Israeli hostages as efforts intensify to locate their remains. A team from Egypt entered the Gaza Strip to aid in the search, focusing on the rubble left in the wake of ongoing conflict. Rubio’s commitment comes during his visit to Israel, where he met with the families of two dual U.S.-Israeli citizens, Itay Chen, 19, and Omer Neutra, 21, who were among those killed by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
Rubio stated, “We will not rest until their — and all — remains are returned,” in a post on X. He emphasized that the memories of those who died in Hamas captivity must not be forgotten. Since a cease-fire agreement was reached on September 29 under former President Donald Trump, the remains of 15 out of 28 deceased captives have been returned to Israel, along with the release of 20 living hostages.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed gratitude for Rubio’s remarks, stating, “Thirteen hostages need to come home. Thirteen families need closure.” Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square on Saturday night, urging the government to secure the return of the remaining captives.
Rubio’s visit concluded a three-day trip to Israel before heading to Doha to meet with Donald Trump and Qatar’s Emir and Prime Minister. Discussions will center on establishing an international peacekeeping force in Gaza. During his flight, Rubio mentioned that the U.S. is working on a United Nations resolution to facilitate this mission. “Many countries interested in participating will need this due to their domestic laws,” he explained to reporters.
Israeli officials remain hopeful that Hamas will return two more bodies on Sunday. Reports from Channel 12 indicate that mediators are pressuring Hamas to expedite the release. Israeli officials have accused the group of selectively releasing victims rather than returning all the deceased at once, a move that is crucial for maintaining fragile peace negotiations.
An Egyptian recovery team, equipped with engineering vehicles, entered Gaza on Saturday to assist in locating the bodies, a mission reportedly approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to the Times of Israel, Israeli Defense Forces officials informed Vice President JD Vance that they believe Hamas is capable of returning at least 10 of the remaining 13 deceased hostages.
Alongside these efforts, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the primary focus of Israel’s military operations has shifted to neutralizing Hamas’ tunnel infrastructure, which he claims remains 60% operational. Katz declared, “The demilitarization of Gaza by destroying Hamas’s terror tunnels, alongside disarming Hamas, is, in my view, the most important strategic objective for achieving victory in Gaza.” He directed the IDF to prioritize the destruction of these tunnels as part of ongoing military strategy.
As diplomatic efforts continue and military operations intensify, the situation remains critical, with families awaiting closure and the broader implications of peace negotiations hanging in the balance.
