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

The bodies of 13 deceased hostages are believed to still be in Gaza.

Last Updated: October 24, 2025, 10:52 AM EDT

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.

Oct 19, 2025, 2:49 PM EDT

Israel temporarily closed crossings into Gaza Sunday, said official

An Israeli official confirmed to ABC News that a decision had been made earlier Sunday to close crossings into Gaza, halting aid from entering, but that the decision has since been reversed.

A political source familiar with the matter told ABC News that aid deliveries from crossings into Gaza were also temporarily stopped Sunday due to the bombing and that the Rafah crossing will remain closed for now.

“Due to the intense bombings and dozens of deaths on the Hamas side, Israel stopped truck traffic today, which will resume when the bombings end," the official told ABC News. "Rafah Crossing will only open when we see Hamas continuing to return the dead hostages at a reasonable pace.”

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

Oct 19, 2025, 1:12 PM EDT

IDF says it 'struck dozens of Hamas terror targets' in Gaza

The Israel Defense Forces said Sunday that it has "struck dozens of Hamas terror targets" in Gaza.

"In response to Hamas’ blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement this morning, the IDF struck dozens of Hamas terror targets across Gaza," the IDF said in a social media post. "The strikes targeted weapons storage facilities, firing posts, terrorist cells and additional Hamas terror infrastructure."

"In addition, the IDF struck and dismantled ~6 km of underground terrorist infrastructure, used to advance attacks against Israel, using over 120 munitions," the post continued.

In an earlier post Sunday, the IDF said the strikes were "in response to the blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement earlier today."

Oct 19, 2025, 9:58 AM EDT

Hamas military wing says body of another Israeli hostage has been found

Hamas' military wing said that the body of another Israeli hostage has been found and can be handed over "if field conditions" allow.

"Today, we found the body of an Israeli captive during ongoing search operations. It will be handed over today if field conditions allow," the al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement.

"We emphasize that any Israeli escalation will hinder the search, excavation, and retrieval operations, which will delay the occupation’s recovery of the bodies of its dead," the statement continued.

The bodies of 16 hostages remain in the Gaza Strip, according to the latest information from the Israeli government.

Oct 19, 2025, 8:25 AM EDT

Netanyahu asks defense and security officials to 'act forcefully against terrorist targets' in Gaza

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office issued a statement Sunday saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the minister of defense and the heads of security establishment to "act forcefully against terrorist targets" in Gaza.

The statement comes after Israel and Hamas accused each other of violating the peace deal.

"Following Hamas's violation of the ceasefire, Prime Minister Netanyahu held a consultation with the Minister of Defense and the heads of the security establishment and instructed them to act forcefully against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip," Sunday's statement read.

"Earlier today (Sunday), terrorists fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire toward IDF troops operating to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the Rafah area, in southern Gaza, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement," according to a statement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

"In response, the IDF has begun striking in the area to eliminate the threat and dismantle tunnel shafts and military structures used for terrorist activity. These terrorist actions constitute a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, and the IDF will respond firmly," the IDF statement continued.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

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