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
7 hostages transferred to Israeli military, IDF says
The first seven hostages to be returned on Monday were making their way to Israeli territory accompanied by members of the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet, the internal security agency, according to Israel.
"The commanders and soldiers of the IDF salute and embrace the returning hostages as they make their way home to the State of Israel," Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an IDF spokesperson, said in a statement.
Additional hostages are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on Monday, Israel said.
-ABC News' Victoria Beaule
'Historic moment,' US ambassador says of hostage return
The return of the first seven hostages on Monday amounted to an "historic moment," U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said.
"Surreal to be here as first group of hostages are released," he said on social media. "It’s a moment like the moon landing where time freezes as we watch this historic moment."
7 hostages received, Red Cross says
Seven of the remaining hostages taken from Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, were received by the Red Cross and were making their way back to Israel from the Gaza Strip, according to the Red Cross.
"After 738 days in captivity, the IAF is ready to meet our hostages and bring them back home," the Israeli Air Force said.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, which is facilitating the exchange between Hamas and Israel in northern Gaza, said early on Monday that the process had begun.
"We have started a multi-phase operation to facilitate the release and transfer of hostages and detainees as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas," the group said in an updated press release.
Israel’s military said earlier on Monday that the transfer were expected to be split, with "several" hostages being released during the first transfer to the Red Cross.
"The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later," the IDF said prior to the first transfer.
Trump expected to land in Tel Aviv ahead of address
U.S. President Donald Trump was scheduled to land early on Monday in Tel Aviv, Israel, where he’s expected to meet with hostage families and to address lawmakers.
Air Force One was expected to land at Ben Gurion Airport at about 9:30 a.m. local time, or about 2:30 a.m. ET, according to the White House.
The president was scheduled to meet with families of those held hostage by Hamas militants a little more than an hour later. That meeting will be private, the White House said.
At about 10 a.m. local time, or about 4 a.m. ET, Trump was scheduled to address the Israeli parliament, which is known as the Knesset.