Rubio, Netanyahu discuss Gaza peace, return of hostage remains in call before Doha meeting

The leaders discussed the return of the remaining hostages and plans for Hamas disarmament.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke on the phone after Rubio concluded his visit to Israel on Saturday evening.

The pair discussed the Gaza ceasefire and how to demilitarize Hamas.

The leaders also discussed the return of the remaining hostages.

Earlier on Saturday, Hamas gave indications that it could return the bodies of two slain hostages. However, the Gaza terror group promised the same thing on Friday and did not do so.

US to speak with Doha on input for UN resolution on Gaza peace force

Rubio said earlier on Saturday that the US is getting input on a possible UN resolution or international agreement to authorize a multinational force in Gaza and will discuss the issue in Qatar on Sunday.

“Many of the countries that have expressed an interest in participating at some level, whether it be monetary or personnel or both, are going to need that (a UN resolution or international agreement) because their domestic laws require it,” Rubio told reporters traveling on his plane between Israel and Qatar en route to Asia.

“So we have a whole team working on that outline of it.”

During Netanyahu and Rubio’s meeting on Thursday, the pair discussed how to advance the US-backed Gaza deal.

“Now we face days of destiny. We want to advance peace, we still have security challenges, but I think that we can work together, and by working together, both address the challenges and seize the opportunities, and plenty of both,” Netanyahu said.

“We have more work ahead of us, but we feel very positive about it. We’ve been making good progress,” Rubio said.

“No one is under any illusions. We’ve already done the impossible once. And we intend to keep doing that. And we can.”