Rubio Commits to Recover Bodies of Israeli Hostages Amid Tensions

Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged on Saturday to ensure the return of all deceased Israeli hostages’ bodies. His remarks came during a visit to Jerusalem, where he met families of dual US-Israeli citizens, Itay Chen, 19, and Omer Neutra, 21, whose remains are believed to be trapped within the Gaza Strip.

Rubio stated, “We will not rest until their — and all — remains are returned,” emphasizing the U.S. commitment to not forget those who lost their lives while held by Hamas. Since the ceasefire agreement brokered by former President Donald Trump on September 29, 2023, Israel has received the remains of 15 out of 28 deceased captives, alongside the release of all 20 living hostages.

Both Chen and Neutra were members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and were killed on October 7, 2023, with their bodies subsequently taken hostage by Hamas. The militant group has been gradually returning bodies as it navigates the aftermath of the ongoing conflict. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed support for Rubio’s commitment on social media, stating, “Thirteen families need closure. Please don’t stop — until the last hostage is released.”

In a related demonstration, thousands gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square on Saturday night, advocating for the return of the remaining bodies. Rubio’s visit to Israel concluded a three-day trip before he traveled to Doha to meet with Qatar’s Emir and Prime Minister on Sunday to discuss establishing an international peacekeeping force in Gaza.

During his flight, Rubio commented that the U.S. is working towards a United Nations resolution or international agreement to facilitate the peacekeeping mission. “Many countries that have expressed interest in participating need this due to their domestic laws,” he noted, highlighting ongoing efforts to outline the mission’s framework.

Israeli officials are hopeful that Hamas will return two additional bodies on Sunday, under pressure from mediators. According to Channel 12, officials have accused Hamas of deliberately delaying the release of all deceased hostages, despite having the capability to do so. The return of these bodies is a critical component of the fragile peace agreement between Israel and Hamas.

An Egyptian team entered the Gaza Strip on Saturday with engineering vehicles to assist in locating the dead hostages’ bodies. This operation was reportedly approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) officials indicated in a meeting with Vice President JD Vance that they believe Hamas could return at least 10 of the 13 remaining deceased hostages.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the primary objective of Israel is to dismantle Hamas’ tunnel infrastructure across Gaza, which he claims remains 60% operational. Katz emphasized, “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 confirmed that he instructed the IDF to prioritize the destruction of these tunnels.

As these developments unfold, the situation in the region remains tense, with significant implications for both Israeli and Palestinian communities.