Israel Tells Vance Hamas Can Return 10 Of 13 Dead Hostages

Israel Tells Vance Hamas Can Return 10 Of 13 Dead Hostages

 

 

Israeli defense officials reportedly informed U.S. Vice President JD Vance that Hamas is capable of returning the bodies of at least 10 of the 13 remaining dead hostages still held in Gaza.

 

During a Thursday meeting at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and other senior officials presented Vance with the military’s latest intelligence assessment on Gaza. According to Israel’s Kan public broadcaster, the officials “stated unequivocally” that Hamas can hand over the majority of the slain hostages’ remains — even before international recovery teams enter the Strip.

 

The briefing reflects mounting frustration in Israel over Hamas’s partial cooperation in hostage repatriations following the current ceasefire. Before the truce, Hamas held the bodies of 28 Israeli captives and has since returned 15, alongside freeing 20 surviving hostages. The group most recently handed over the remains of two victims earlier this week.

 

Conflicting intelligence reports have long suggested that Hamas may no longer be able to locate all of the deceased hostages. Earlier this month, CNN cited an Israeli source estimating that between seven and nine bodies may be unrecoverable, while others placed the figure as high as 15.

 

Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi — who commanded Israel’s military during the October 7 attacks — attended a public rally on Thursday calling for the return of the remaining slain captives, a rare appearance underscoring the emotional weight of the issue inside Israel’s defense establishment.

 

Key Takeaways:

• Israeli officials told U.S. Vice President JD Vance that Hamas can return 10 of 13 dead hostages.

• The IDF says Hamas is capable of doing so even before international recovery efforts begin.

• Herzi Halevi joined a rally urging the return of all remaining slain captives.

 

Source: [The Times of Israel]