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

The bodies of 13 deceased hostages are believed to still be in Gaza.

ByKevin Shalvey, Jon Haworth, Emily Shapiro, Nadine El-Bawab, and David Brennan
Last Updated: October 24, 2025, 10:52 AM EDT

U.S. officials -- including Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner -- traveled to Israel this week for high-level meetings, discussing the next steps in the delicate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

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.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Oct 13, 2025, 3:00 AM EDT

Trump arrives in Israel ahead of address

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived on Monday morning in Israel, where he’s where he's expected to address the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.

President Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport on the outskirts of Lod near Tel Aviv on Oct. 13, 2025, as he travels to Israel and Egypt.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

The White House released the welcome message that Air Force One received as it entered Israeli airspace.

"Welcome to the state of Israel, Mr. President," the Ben Gurion Airport control tower said, according to the White House. "Your visit carries deep meaning for people in this time. Thank you for your friendship and unbreakable bond between our nations. God bless America and God bless Israel."

-ABC News’ Alex Ederson

Oct 13, 2025, 2:43 AM EDT

Israel releases names of 7 returned hostages as they cross into Israeli territory

The office of Israel's prime minister’s released the names of the first seven hostages released on Monday.

They are: Ohel Alon, Angrest Matan, Berman Gali, Berman Ziv, Gilboa-Dalal Guy, Mor Eitan and Miran Omri, according to the statement.

Israeli military helicopters wait in preparation to take hostages released by Hamas in Gaza to hospitals in Israel after they arrive in the southern Reim army base on October 13, 2025.
Maya Levin/AFP via Getty Images

"Their families have been informed by the authorized authorities that they have joined our forces in the Gaza Strip and will soon make their way to Israeli territory," the office said in a statement.

The seven crossed into Israeli territory, Avichay Adraee, an IDF spokesperson, said on social media.

-ABC News’ Jordana Miller and Victoria Beaule

Oct 13, 2025, 2:24 AM EDT

7 hostages transferred to Israeli military, IDF says

The first seven hostages to be returned on Monday were making their way to Israeli territory accompanied by members of the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet, the internal security agency, according to Israel.

An Israeli military helicopter waits in preparation to take hostages released by Hamas in Gaza to hospitals in Israel after they arrive in the southern Reim army base on October 13, 2025.
Maya Levin/AFP via Getty Images

"The commanders and soldiers of the IDF salute and embrace the returning hostages as they make their way home to the State of Israel," Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an IDF spokesperson, said in a statement.

Additional hostages are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on Monday, Israel said.

-ABC News' Victoria Beaule

Oct 13, 2025, 2:06 AM EDT

'Historic moment,' US ambassador says of hostage return

The return of the first seven hostages on Monday amounted to an "historic moment," U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said.

"Surreal to be here as first group of hostages are released," he said on social media. "It’s a moment like the moon landing where time freezes as we watch this historic moment."

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