Trump hints at 'action' if Hamas doesn't return hostage bodies

As a fragile ceasefire continues to hold, retired Israel Defense Forces Major General Giora Eiland expressed concern that the deal will fall apart because its unlikely Hamas will be ready to give up its weapons, he told ABC News.

“I don't think that Hamas will be ready to give up its weapons. They might be ready to give up some symbolic positions as a government, but they will never be ready to give up their weapons. That's why I don't believe the Trump plan will successfully be accomplished," he said in an interview in Tel Aviv.

However, under U.S. pressure, Israel is obliged to give the plan a go, but the only part that really matters for Israel is the "demilitarization" of Gaza, he said.

“We have to give a chance because this is American plan and as far as Israel is concerned, if it does work then it is good for us. But I personally don't believe that it will succeed," he said.

The former IDF general believes that Israel should ensure that there is no reconstruction in Gaza unless “this process of demilitarization is accomplished successfully.”

Such a process should, he says, involve destroying all the tunnels, something which a Hamas ambush on IDF troops on Sunday proved has not been completed. Eiland said dismantling Hamas militarily is possible but believes that task now falls to Arab partners of the U.S.

However, Eiland believes Hamas, as a political force, will remain in Gaza.

"You cannot dismantle the sentiment of Hamas which is deep in the hearts and the minds of the people of Gaza. But you can destroy the military abilities," Eiland said.

-ABC News' Tom Soufi Burridge

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a brief statement on Thursday after meeting in Israel, expressing optimism and confidence as the fragile ceasefire continues.

"We feel confident and positive about the progress that's being made. We're clear eyed about the challenges too, but the president has made this a top priority," Rubio said.

Rubio's trip to Israel comes on the heels of visits from Vice President JD Vance, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who've spent the week traveling to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE to continue coalition building in the region.

The American officials visited several countries in the region this week to help manage and stabilize the ceasefire, according to U.S. officials.

"Now we have more work ahead of us, but we feel very positive about it. We're making good progress. It's amazing that in seven or eight days, the kinds of things and systems that have been set up. No one's under any illusions. We've already done the impossible once, and we intend to keep doing that, if we can," Rubio said.

-ABC News' Mariam Khan

A meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Secretary of State Marco Rubio is now underway, according to the Israeli Prime Minister’s office.

Rubio arrived in Israel Thursday after Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner visited Israel and held meetings with Netanyahu and other members of the Israeli government earlier this week.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

Secretary of State Marco Rubio weighed in on West Bank annexation last night as he departed for Israel, giving a seemingly coordinated message from the administration as they work to keep the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire intact.

"The President’s made clear that’s not something we’d be supportive of right now, and we think it’s potentially threatening to the peace deal. So, they’re a democracy, they’re going to have their votes, people are going to take these positions, but at this time it’s something that, especially, we think it might be counterproductive," Rubio said Wednesday night before heading to Israel.

President Donald Trump reiterated the same message in his TIME interview, saying it's a delicate balancing act to manage in keeping both sides motivated to prevent the collapse of the ceasefire.

“It won't happen. It won't happen. It won’t happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries," Trump said of West Bank annexation.

-ABC News' Mariam Khan