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

Vice President JD Vance and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel, to discuss American-Israeli partnership, and next steps for the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

"These days of destiny" are what Vance and Netanyahu are calling this stage of the Gaza peace plan, hinting at the massive undertaking that must happen to "disarm Hamas" and "rebuild Gaza."

"We have a very, very tough task ahead of us, which is to disarm Hamas but rebuild Gaza to make life better for the people in Gaza, but also to ensure that Hamas is no longer a threat to our friends in Israel," Vance said.

Both leaders also commented on suggestions that either Israel controls the United States -- or that the United States controls Israel. Netanyahu called the assumption "hogwash" and reaffirmed that both the United States and Israel are committed to a "partnership" even if they have "disagreements, here and there."

"We have a partnership, an alliance of partners who share common values, common goals. We can have discussions," he said. "We can have disagreements here and there. But on the whole, I have to say that in the past year, we've had agreement."

Vance added to the prime minister's comments, saying that Israel is not a client or vassal state, but is still committing to the partnership between the United States and Israel. He added that he sees Israel playing a leadership role in the Middle East and North Africa, so that "the United States can care less about the Middle East."

Vance said he remains hopeful that the Israel-Hamas ceasefire will hold, but said that there will be a lot of work ahead.

"It's not easy. I never said it was easy, but what I am is optimistic that the cease fire is going to hold and that we can actually build a better future in the entire Middle East," Vance said.

-ABC News' Alex Ederson and Somayeh Malekian

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara Netanyahu, welcomed on Wednesday U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, the office said.

Vance, along with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are in Israel for high-level meetings, as the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues. Both sides have accused the other of violations. Israel has said Hamas is delaying return of some hostage remains, a claim Hamas has denied.

The vice president on Tuesday praised U.S. President Donald Trump for his efforts brokering that truce, saying also that the administration would continue pushing for Hamas to return each of the 13 remaining deceased hostages.

"It is a focus of everybody here to get those bodies back home to their families so that they can have a proper burial ... this is going to take a little bit of time," Vance said.

He added that "very bad things are going to happen" if Hamas doesn't respect the terms of the truce.

-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian, Jordana Miller and Kevin Shalvey

The second body of a hostage returned to the Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday has been identified as Sgt. Maj. Tamir Adar.

Israeli officials said Adar was the deputy chief security coordinator and a member of the emergency squad at the Nir Oz kibbutz, who died on the morning of Oct. 7, 2023, before his body was taken into Gaza.

Adar was 38 years old at the time of his death, according to the IDF. He is survived by his wife and two children, parents, two brothers and a sister.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

The Israel Defense Forces announced on Tuesday that it had identified the body of a hostage returned by Hamas as 85-year-old Arie (Zalman) Zalmanovitz.

Another body was also identified, according to the IDF, but their name has not yet been released publicly.

The IDF said Zalmanovitz was abducted by Hamas while alive from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Israeli officials said he was killed in captivity on Nov. 17, 2023.

Zalmanovitz is survived by two sons and five grandchildren, according to the IDF.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky