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 17, 2025, 5:13 PM EDT

Hamas hands over body to Red Cross, on its way to IDF troops

Hamas has handed over a coffin to the Red Cross and it is now on its way to Israeli troops in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli Security Agency said.

In a statement, Hamas said it "continues to uphold its commitment to implementing the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip by handing over the body of another Israeli captive this evening and will continue working to complete the entire exchange process."

Oct 17, 2025, 5:02 PM EDT

Red Cross heading to retrieve coffin in Gaza, IDF says

The Red Cross is on its way to a meeting point where a “coffin” will be transferred into its custody inside Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli Security Agency said.

The Red Cross will then hand the coffin over to IDF forces who will transport it to Israel. The coffin will then be taken to Israel’s National Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification.

-ABC News’ Dana Savir

Oct 17, 2025, 3:23 PM EDT

Hamas plans to return 1 body to Israel tonight

Hamas will hand over the body of “one Israeli captive” that was found in Gaza on Friday, Hamas said in a statement. Hamas said they would return the body at 11 p.m. local time, 4 p.m. ET.

Oct 17, 2025, 2:57 PM EDT

Israeli forces strike southern Lebanon for 2nd day

Israeli forces carried out a strike in southern Lebanon Friday. The IDF said it killed a “terrorist who took part in Hezbollah’s attempts to reestablish its military capabilities in the Kherbet Selem area.”

This is the second day in a row Israel has struck southern Lebanon.

Related Topics

Sponsored Content by Taboola