Hamas Returns Remains Of More Hostages
4 days ago
Israel’s military says Hamas has handed over the remains of two more hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza.
Since the ceasefire began on Oct. 10, the remains of 13 hostages have been returned to Israel. After these latest remains arrive in Israel, another 13 still need to be recovered in Gaza and handed over.
On a visit to Israel Tuesday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance urged a “little bit of patience” amid Israeli frustration with Hamas’ pace of returning the hostages.
“Some of these hostages are buried under thousands of pounds of rubble. Some of the hostages, nobody even knows where they are,” Vance said.
Israel is releasing 15 Palestinian bodies for the remains of each dead hostage, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
KIRYAT GAT, Israel (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance and other envoys projected optimism Tuesday about Gaza 's fragile ceasefire agreement, calling progress better than anticipated as they visited a new center in Israel for civilian and military cooperation.
Vance noted flareups of violence in recent days but said the ceasefire that began on Oct. 10 is going “better than I expected” after two years of war between Israel and Hamas. The Trump administration's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, added that “we are exceeding where we thought we would be at this time.”
They are in Israel as questions remain over the long-term plan for peace, including whether Hamas will disarm, when and how an international security force will deploy to Gaza and who will govern the territory after the war.
Vance tried to downplay any idea that his visit — his first as vice president — was urgently arranged to keep the ceasefire in place. He said he feels “confident that we’re going to be in a place where this peace lasts,” but warned that if Hamas doesn’t cooperate, it will be “obliterated.”
Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and one of the architects of the ceasefire agreement, noted its complexity: “Both sides are transitioning from two years of very intense warfare to now a peacetime posture."
Vance is expected to stay in the region until Thursday and meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu fired his national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, but gave no reason for the decision. Israeli media said Hanegbi had opposed the renewal of Israel’s Gaza offensive in March, and Israel’s failed attempt to assassinate Hamas’ leadership in an airstrike in Qatar in September. In a statement, Hanegbi noted “times of disagreement” with Netanyahu.
Since the ceasefire began on Oct. 10, the remains of 13 hostages have been returned to Israel. After these latest remains arrive in Israel, another 13 still need to be recovered in Gaza and handed over.
On a visit to Israel Tuesday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance urged a “little bit of patience” amid Israeli frustration with Hamas’ pace of returning the hostages.
“Some of these hostages are buried under thousands of pounds of rubble. Some of the hostages, nobody even knows where they are,” Vance said.
Israel is releasing 15 Palestinian bodies for the remains of each dead hostage, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
KIRYAT GAT, Israel (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance and other envoys projected optimism Tuesday about Gaza 's fragile ceasefire agreement, calling progress better than anticipated as they visited a new center in Israel for civilian and military cooperation.
Vance noted flareups of violence in recent days but said the ceasefire that began on Oct. 10 is going “better than I expected” after two years of war between Israel and Hamas. The Trump administration's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, added that “we are exceeding where we thought we would be at this time.”
They are in Israel as questions remain over the long-term plan for peace, including whether Hamas will disarm, when and how an international security force will deploy to Gaza and who will govern the territory after the war.
Vance tried to downplay any idea that his visit — his first as vice president — was urgently arranged to keep the ceasefire in place. He said he feels “confident that we’re going to be in a place where this peace lasts,” but warned that if Hamas doesn’t cooperate, it will be “obliterated.”
Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and one of the architects of the ceasefire agreement, noted its complexity: “Both sides are transitioning from two years of very intense warfare to now a peacetime posture."
Vance is expected to stay in the region until Thursday and meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu fired his national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, but gave no reason for the decision. Israeli media said Hanegbi had opposed the renewal of Israel’s Gaza offensive in March, and Israel’s failed attempt to assassinate Hamas’ leadership in an airstrike in Qatar in September. In a statement, Hanegbi noted “times of disagreement” with Netanyahu.
