JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed Saturday to secure the return of all deceased hostages still held in Gaza, as he met with the families of two captives during his visit to Israel.
He also said that the US could call for a United Nations resolution supporting an international stabilization force that aims to deploy to Gaza so that more nations can take part.
“We will not forget the lives of the hostages who died in the captivity of Hamas,” Rubio said on X.
“Today I met with the families of American citizens Itay Chen and Omer Neutra. We will not rest until their – and all – remains are returned,” he said, hours before wrapping up his three-day visit to Israel.
Gaza stabilization force
On the planned international stabilization force to be deployed to Gaza, Rubio said multiple countries are interested in joining but that they need more details about the mission and rules of engagement.
Many of the countries who want to be a part of the force “can’t do it without” an international mandate, he told reporters en route from Israel to Qatar, where he met up with President Donald Trump for a multistop tour in Asia.
He added that the US has been talking with Qatar, Egypt and Turkiye — all mediators of the Gaza ceasefire, along with the US — and noting interest from Indonesia and Azerbaijan.
Rubio also said that Israel and the ceasefire mediators are sharing information to disrupt any threats and that allowed them to identify a possible impending attack last weekend.
The State Department said a week ago that it had “credible reports” Hamas could violate the ceasefire with an attack on Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
“We put out a message through State Department, sent it to our mediators as well, about an impending attack, and it didn’t happen,” he said. “So that’s the goal here, is ultimately to identify a threat before it happens.”
He said that next week the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, is expected to be the latest in a parade of US officials to travel to Israel.
Vice President JD Vance joined special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner earlier in the week in Israel in an effort to shore up the fragile ceasefire deal. Rubio arrived just as Vance was departing, meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and touring a US-led coordination center monitoring the ceasefire.
Return of dead hostages
The Israeli campaign group, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, welcomed Rubio’s pledge to secure the return of all deceased hostages still held in Gaza.
“Thirteen hostages need to come home. Thirteen families need closure,” the group said on X, thanking the US secretary of state.
“Please don’t stop – until the last hostage is released,” it added.
Israelis rally at Hostage Square in the Israeli coastal city ofTel Aviv on October 25, 2025, calling for the release of all the bodies of hostages held in Gaza by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. (AFP)
Chen, a dual Israel-US national and a sergeant in the Israeli army, was working at the border with the Gaza Strip when Hamas and its allies attacked on October 7, 2023.
The military announced his death five months later in March 2024.
It said Chen, 19 at the time of the attack, died in combat and his body was taken to Gaza.
Neutra, 21 at the time of the attack and also a US-Israeli national, was a volunteer soldier killed on October 7.
Raised in New York, Neutra came to Israel to experience the country of his parents, his mother Orna Neutra said in November 2023. He later enlisted for military service as most young Israelis do.
Under the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which came into effect on October 10, all 20 living hostages have been freed by Palestinian militants.
Remains of 15 deceased hostages have also been returned to Israel, while the bodies of 13 others remain in Gaza.
In exchange, Israel has released nearly 2,000 prisoners, mostly Palestinians, along with dozens of Palestinian bodies, as part of the deal.
The ceasefire has largely halted hostilities but on Sunday Israel carried out a wave of air strikes that left dozens of Gazans dead, according to the territory’s health ministry.
Israel said its troops came under attack, resulting in the death of two soldiers, after which it launched the strikes. Later, Israel reinforced the ceasefire.
— With AFP & AP)
