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 21, 2025, 11:36 AM EDT

No reconstruction funds will go into areas Hamas still controls, Kushner says

No reconstruction funds for Gaza will go into areas that Hamas still controls and considerations will be made in areas that the Israel Defense Forces control, Jared Kushner said during a press conference in Israel on Tuesday.

Kushner told reporters that there have been "very good meetings with the Israelis," saying both sides are moving to a peaceful posture and ending the fighting.

"There's been surprisingly strong coordination between the United Nations and Israel," Kushner said. "I do believe a great outcome is possible."

Oct 21, 2025, 11:33 AM EDT

Vance has 'great optimism' that ceasefire will hold

Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday told reporters he is hopeful that the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas will hold.

"What we've seen in the past weeks gives me great optimism that the deal is gonna hold," Vance said during his trip to Israel. "Everybody should be proud of where we are today."

Vance reiterated that it will take time to work out the details of how Hamas will disarm as part of the agreement.

He also waved off concerns about the delay in Hamas returning the remains of deceased hostages. Vance said some hostages are under rubble while the whereabouts of others is currently unknown.

Speaking about American or international troops on the ground, Vance said, "we're not gonna force anything on our Israeli friends when it comes to foreign troops."

Oct 21, 2025, 9:57 AM EDT

Bodies of 2 hostages found, will be returned Tuesday, Hamas says

The bodies of two Israeli hostages were retrieved from under rubble on Tuesday and will be handed over to Israel at 9 p.m. local time, 2:00 p.m. ET, the military wing of Hamas, Al-Qassam Brigades, announced.

-ABC News' Nasser Atta

Oct 21, 2025, 6:14 AM EDT

Vance arrives in Israel

U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Israel on Tuesday afternoon local time.

PHOTO: Vice President J.D. Vance, and Second Lady Usha Vance disembark Air Force Two on arrival to Ben Gurion airport on October 21, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Vice President J.D. Vance, and Second Lady Usha Vance disembark Air Force Two on arrival to Ben Gurion airport on October 21, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Pool/Getty Images

Vance and second lady Usha Vance landed at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv a day after the arrival of two of U.S. President Donald Trump's trusted advisers -- Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

The three are expected to work with Israeli officials to "continue the Trump Administration's work on the historic Gaza Peace Deal," according to the White House.

-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian

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