In all, 20 living hostages and the remains of 27 others have been returned to Israel since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire began in early October.

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates “expressed their deep concern regarding the statements issued by the Israeli side

The return of all the hostages taken on the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that started the war is a key element of the first phase of the ceasefire that began last month. In exchange, Israel has been releasing Palestinian prisoners.

Gaza militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab died from injuries sustained in a clan confrontation while working to distribute aid and fight Hamas in Rafah.

Muslim-majority countries worried Israel aims to transfer Gazans to Egypt with opening of Rafah Crossing * ICC deputy prosecutor: ‘Conceivable’ to hold in-abstentia hearings against Netanyahu, Putin

Israel launched a military strike after it said Hamas militants attacked its soldiers, the latest clashes in the two months since a truce was signed.

Israel has announced plans to reopen the Rafah border crossing in the coming days, allowing Palestinians to leave Gaza.

In Israel, Waltz will hold talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog “to advance US-Israel cooperation at the United Nations and discuss shared priorities for regional security and humanitarian aid,” according to the statement.

Israel had agreed to open the Rafah crossing as part of the October cease-fire deal with Hamas but kept it closed. Egypt denied that the border would reopen soon.

Democratic politicians are struggling to strike a balance between U.S. support for Israel and voter outrage over civilian suffering in Gaza.

Israeli fire killed two Palestinians in Gaza and two suspected Palestinian attackers in the West Bank on Tuesday as Israel's government prepared to receive some of the last hostage remains from militants in Gaza.