Remains of American Israeli hostage among 3 bodies returned by Hamas, IDF says

Israeli forces said they resumed the Gaza ceasefire after strikes on Tuesday.

ByDavid Brennan, Megan Forrester, and Nadine El-Bawab
Last Updated: November 3, 2025, 1:40 AM EST

U.S. President Donald Trump pressed Hamas to act faster in returning the bodies of deceased hostages amid a delicate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire deal by withholding the bodies of the remaining 13 deceased hostages thought to have died during or after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

Hamas has said the return of the remaining bodies "may take some time" due to the destruction wrought in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday instructed the country's military to "carry out powerful strikes in Gaza," a statement from his office said, in response to alleged ceasefire violations by Hamas.

The Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday they had resumed the ceasefire.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Oct 26, 2025, 7:40 AM EDT

Netanyahu says Israel, not US, will decide security policy

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used a Sunday cabinet meeting to push back on recent suggestions that the U.S. is dictating security policy on Gaza.

"Israel is an independent state, the United States is an independent state," Netanyahu said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participate in the state memorial ceremony for the fallen soldiers of the War, at Mt. Herzl, In Jerusalem, Oct. 16, 2025.
Alex Kolomoisky/Pool via AP

"The relations between us are those of partners," he said, adding, "I want to make one thing clear -- it is our own security policy. We are not prepared to tolerate attacks against us, we respond according to our own discretion against attacks, as we have seen in Lebanon and in Gaza."

Netanyahu also said Israel is not seeking approval for military attacks and addressed the issue of international teams meant to monitor the ceasefire deal in Gaza.

"We control our own security and we have made it clear to the international forces that Israel will determine which forces are acceptable to us, and that is how we operate and will continue to operate," he said.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller and Victoria Beaule

Oct 26, 2025, 3:35 AM EDT

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

President Donald Trump pressed Hamas to return the bodies of all deceased hostages or face "action" from nations involved in the Gaza ceasefire plan.

Protesters call for the release of all the bodies of hostages held in Gaza during an event in Tel Aviv on Oct. 25, 2025.
Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

"We have a very strong PEACE in the Middle East, and I believe it has a good chance of being EVERLASTING," Trump wrote in a Saturday social media post.

"Hamas is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly, or the other Countries involved in this GREAT PEACE will take action," Trump added.

The bodies of 13 hostages are still believed to be in Gaza. Hamas committed to returning all living and deceased captives being held in the strip as part of the ceasefire deal reached earlier this month. All 20 living hostages and the bodies of 15 deceased captives have so far been released.

Hamas officials have said the group is continuing to search for the remaining hostage bodies, saying the devastation caused by Israel's attacks on Gaza has complicated recovery efforts.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie

Related Topics

Sponsored Content by Taboola