Israel
Hamas officials can reach 10 of the 13 remaining hostages, Israeli officials tell Vance
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar accused the terror group of delaying releases to stave off its own disarmament
October 24, 2025 10:26
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar accused the terror group of delaying releases to stave off its own disarmament
October 24, 2025 10:26Israeli officials have reportedly presented intelligence to US Vice President JD Vance showing that Hamas is able to reach and recover 10 of the 13 remaining deceased hostages.
Since the start of the Gaza ceasefire earlier this month, the terror group has released all of its living captives and around half of those confirmed to be dead.
All were supposed to be returned to Israel within 72 hours of the IDF’s withdrawal to the new “yellow line” in Gaza.
However, it has claimed that the remaining bodies are buried under rubble and will require more time to recover, even suggesting that the process could take months.
Yet the Kan national broadcaster reports that, during his visit to Israel’s ceasefire coordination centre near Kiryat Gat this week, Vance was shown an IDF intelligence assessment which “stated unequivocally” that Hamas could access 10 of the bodies without the assistance of international rescue teams.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has publicly claimed that Hamas is delaying the return of the hostages in order to stave off the next phase of the Trump-backed ceasefire deal, which would require it to disarm.
He said: “Hamas is barbarically abusing the families who have waited two long years and simply want to lay their sons to rest. We demand the immediate return of all the bodies that Hamas is holding.
"Israel is committed to working toward the success of President Trump’s plan. There are difficulties. But we are doing everything we can to work toward its success.
"Hamas and Islamic Jihad must lay down their arms. Gaza must be demilitarised. It must no longer be allowed to pose a threat to Israel and its citizens.
"This is at the heart of the Trump plan. We will not compromise on it.”
During the same press conference, Sa’ar also lashed out at the “outrageous” advisory opinion recently issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which determined that Israel must facilitate relief efforts by United Nations entities to the Gaza Strip, in particular those of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa).
“This is not a ‘Court of Justice,’” Sa’ar said. “It’s a kangaroo court – a corrupt, political circus... We will not agree to cooperate with Unrwa – an organisation whose employees participated in the October 7 massacre.
"It’s horrific and shameful that a UN agency is infiltrated with terrorists….There is no power on earth that can force this upon Israel.”
The 13 hostages remaining in Gaza have been named as Sahar Baruch, Itay Chen, Amiram Cooper, Oz Daniel, Meny Godard, Hadar Goldin, Ran Gvili, Asaf Hamami, Joshua Mollel, Omer Neutra, Dror Or, Sudthisak Rinthalak and Lior Rudaeff.
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