Rubio Commits to Recovering Bodies of Dead Hostages as Tensions Rise

Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed on Saturday the United States’ commitment to recovering the bodies of all deceased Israeli hostages. This announcement came as an Egyptian team began operations in the Gaza Strip to search for the remains of the victims. Rubio’s remarks were made during a visit to Jerusalem, where he met with families of the hostages, notably Itay Chen, 19, and Omer Neutra, 21, both of whom were killed by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Rubio expressed determination via social media, stating, “We will not rest until their — and all — remains are returned.” He emphasized the importance of remembering the lives lost during the hostages’ captivity. Following a cease-fire agreement brokered by former President Donald Trump on September 29, the remains of 15 out of 28 deceased captives have been returned to Israel, along with all 20 surviving hostages.

The ongoing efforts to return the bodies have garnered significant public support. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum noted on social media, “Thirteen hostages need to come home. Thirteen families need closure.” Thousands of individuals attended a rally in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square on Saturday night, demanding the return of all remaining captives.

Rubio concluded a three-day trip to Israel before traveling to Doha, where he is scheduled to meet with Trump and Qatar’s Emir and Prime Minister. The discussions will focus on establishing an international peacekeeping force in Gaza. Rubio indicated that the U.S. is working on a United Nations resolution or international agreement to facilitate this mission. He mentioned that many countries interested in contributing—whether through financial support or personnel—require formal agreements due to domestic legal obligations.

Israeli officials are hopeful that Hamas will return two more bodies on Sunday, as reported by Channel 12. The officials alleged that Hamas has chosen to delay the release of all deceased hostages, despite having the capability to do so. The return of these bodies is a crucial condition within the fragile peace agreement between Israel and Hamas.

An Egyptian team entered Gaza on Saturday with engineering vehicles to aid in locating the remains of the deceased hostages. Israeli officials confirmed that this operation was personally authorized by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Reports indicate that Israeli Defense Forces officials conveyed to Vice President JD Vance during a meeting on Thursday that they believe Hamas could return the bodies of at least 10 of the 13 deceased hostages currently in its possession.

In the backdrop of these developments, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the primary objective for Israel is to dismantle Hamas’ extensive tunnel network across Gaza, which he claims remains approximately 60% operational. He articulated, “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.” Katz has instructed the IDF to prioritize tunnel destruction in their ongoing military operations.

As the situation continues to unfold, the resolution of these humanitarian concerns remains central to the broader context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.