Trump hints at 'action' if Hamas doesn't return hostage bodies
The bodies of 13 deceased hostages are believed to still be in Gaza.
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
- Egyptian resources deployed in Gaza to help locate, recover Israeli hostage remains
- Netanyahu says Israel, not US, will decide security policy
- Trump hints at 'action' if Hamas doesn't return hostage bodies 'quickly’
- Rubio says West Bank annexation would 'threaten this whole process'
- Aid allowed into Gaza is still falling short of what is needed, WHO head says
Red Cross transfers the remains of 2 more deceased to Israeli authorities
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Saturday night it facilitated the transfer of two remains of those deceased, "acting as a neutral intermediary between the parties, at their request and with their agreement."
Israeli forensic authorities are responsible for taking all possible measures to identify the remains of the deceased, according to the ICRC.
-ABC News' Cindy Smith
Rafah border crossing to remain closed 'until further notice,' Israel says
Despite earlier indications that the Rafah border crossing may open soon, the Israeli prime minister's office said it "will not be reopened until further notice."
The opening of the border crossing, between Egypt and Gaza, will be dependent on "how Hamas fulfills its part in returning the deceased abductees," the prime minister's office said in a statement Saturday.
-ABC News' Dana Savir
Body identified as hostage Eliyahu Margalit after coffin transferred from Red Cross in Israel
The body transferred to Israel on Friday has been identified as hostage Eliyahu Margalit, according to the IDF.
"Following the completion of the identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the family of Eliyahu Margalit that he had been returned for burial," the IDF said in a statement.
"He leaves behind a wife, three children, and grandchildren. His daughter, Nili Margalit, was also abducted and returned on the hostage release agreement in November 2023," the IDF continued. "The IDF expresses deep condolences to the family, continues to make every effort to return all the deceased hostages, and is prepared for the continued implementation of the agreement."
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."