The Trump administration will not put a timeline or deadline on Hamas to return deceased hostages to Israel, Vice President JD Vance said during a press conference in Israel at the civilian military cooperation center on Tuesday.
When asked by a reporter if there would be a deadline for Hamas to bring back all the hostages, Vance responded, “I’m not going to do what the President United States has thus far refused to do, which is put an explicit deadline on it. Because a lot of this stuff is difficult.”
Vance said he has seen a photo of deceased hostages and acknowledged there are “difficulties” in getting all of the bodies returned.
“It is a focus of everybody here to get those bodies back home to their family so they can have a proper burial,” Vance told reporters, adding, “This is difficult. This is not going to happen overnight.”
Why It Matters
The return of Israeli hostages’ bodies from Gaza has become a focal point in ongoing ceasefire negotiations, symbolizing the humanitarian stakes of the conflict and its emotional toll in both Israel and Gaza. Vance’s comments address the growing pressure from Israeli families and officials seeking closure for those killed and still held in Gaza.
The absence of a timeline for the return of remains underlines the complexity of recovery efforts and the fragility of the ceasefire, which remains vulnerable to renewed violence and political breakdowns.
What To Know
While in Kiryat Gat for meetings with officials and families of hostages, Vance urged patience, stating, “A lot of these hostages are buried under thousands of pounds of rubble. Some of the hostages, nobody even knows where they are,” highlighting both the logistical challenges and the ongoing searches in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
Vance stressed that the process “is not something you can simply set a date or deadline for,” referencing both the difficulty of recovery and the need to avoid escalating tensions while diplomatic efforts continue.
“That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t work to get them, and that doesn’t mean we don’t have confidence that we will,” Vance explained, adding, “It’s just a reason to counsel in favor of a little bit of patience.”
The current ceasefire, part of a U.S.-brokered plan led by President Donald Trump, took effect on October 10. It marked a pause in fighting after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed around 1,200 Israelis and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages.
Gaza’s Health Ministry estimated over 68,000 Palestinians had been killed as of the ceasefire’s first week, figures considered generally reliable by United Nations agencies but disputed by Israeli officials.
Trump and U.S. envoys, including Jared Kushner and White House special envoy Steve Witkoff, have pushed for a second phase to the peace plan, which would require Hamas to disarm and relinquish control in Gaza.
Talks have also involved Egyptian and Qatari mediators, with Egypt’s Major General Hassan Rashad holding meetings in Israel this week to discuss advancing disarmament and stabilization.
Israel has confirmed the return of several hostages’ bodies since the ceasefire began, most recently Tal Haimi, killed in the October 2023 attack. Hamas has announced plans to turn over two more sets of remains, while Israel awaits the return of 15 additional hostages’ bodies.
Under the ceasefire terms, Israel is releasing 15 Palestinian bodies for every deceased Israeli hostage returned.
International aid agencies reported scaled-up aid deliveries to Gaza through Israeli-controlled crossings, yet warned the efforts fall far short of needs, especially for northern areas.
What People Are Saying
Vice President JD Vance said in Israel on Tuesday: “A lot of these hostages are buried under thousands of pounds of rubble. Some of the hostages, nobody even knows where they are.”
Khalil al-Hayya, senior Hamas negotiator, said on Egyptian TV on Monday, as reported by Reuters: “Let their (hostages) bodies return to their families, and let the bodies of our martyrs return to their families to be buried in dignity.”
U.S. envoy Jared Kushner said in Israel on Tuesday: “We are one week into Trump’s historic peace plan in the Middle East, and things are going frankly better than I expected.”
What Happens Next
Negotiations over the second phase of the U.S.-backed peace plan are set to intensify in the coming days. Key issues include the disarmament of Hamas and the future governance of Gaza, with Egyptian and Qatari mediators facilitating talks.
The timeline for the return of the remaining hostages’ bodies remains indefinite, as acknowledged by Vance. Humanitarian agencies plan to continue scaling up aid deliveries amid calls for independent investigations into the treatment of returned bodies.
The durability of the ceasefire and pace of repatriations will depend on ongoing diplomatic engagement and on-the-ground conditions in Gaza and Israel.
Update 10/21/25, 1:01 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
