Rob Schmitz

Among the bodies of hostages remaining in Gaza are two Americans.

Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

NPR's Rob Schmitz reports.

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump said he believes there's a good chance for the peace in the Middle East to be, quote, everlasting.

But he warned Hamas that if the hostages' bodies aren't returned, the countries involved in the peace plan will take action.

Among the 13 bodies of hostages remaining in Gaza are those of Itay Chen and Omar Nutra, both Americans.

In an interview, the head of Hamas's negotiating team said they are searching for additional bodies.

A search and rescue team from Egypt has been allowed to enter Gaza to look for these remaining bodies, too.

Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

NPR's Rob Schmitz reports from Tel Aviv.

The Egyptian team, which specializes in search and rescue operations and in dismantling explosive devices, entered the strip accompanied by engineering vehicles with Israeli approval to help locate the bodies of deceased Israeli hostages.

Their bodies are believed to be in areas that have been booby-trapped.

For days, there have been discussions over allowing outside teams into Gaza to help recover the remaining 13 deceased Israeli hostages as well as dead Palestinians under the rubble.

Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

After touring the center, established as part of President Trump's peace plan, Rubio called the coordination of the ceasefire in Gaza an historic mission, saying Washington and its international partners are working to sustain the truce, deliver aid, and pave the way for a stabilization force to enter the territory.

When asked about the role of the United Nations, Rubio called the U.N.

's Relief and Work Agency for the Palestinian Territories a, quote, subsidiary of Hamas, echoing the Israeli government's criticism of the agency, an opinion the U.N.

's highest court this week rejected.

Rubio said it wouldn't be allowed to work in Gaza, but that other U.N.

agencies would.