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Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted Israel alone will decide its security, dismissing any notion of being a U.S. protectorate, before talks in Tel Aviv with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Gaza’s fragile ceasefire. Vance voiced optimism while warning of “very hard” work to disarm Hamas and rebuild Gaza; the U.K. is sending officers to help monitor as plans for an international force remain unsettled. Israel said two additional hostages’ remains were identified, while Gaza authorities reported more Palestinian bodies returned for burial. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Friday as exchanges and diplomacy continue.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.