J.D. Vance Says Some Hamas Hostages May Never be Recovered Despite Trump Peace Deal

Vice President JD Vance said Sunday that while rescuing the remaining hostages held by Hamas remains a top priority, it’s possible that not all of them — especially those who were killed — will be returned to their families.

Speaking on Sunday Morning Futures, Vance acknowledged the difficult reality: “Some of the hostages may never get back, but I do think, with some effort, we’ll be able to give them to their families so they at least have some closure.”

Vance emphasized that recovering the bodies of those who died in captivity is a key part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts in the wake of a major peace deal between Israel and Hamas.

“We want to give these people the ability to have a proper burial with their loved ones who were murdered by brutal terrorists,” he said. “That matters to us. It matters to the families, and it will remain a focus, but it’s going to take some time.”

While he stopped short of making any guarantees, the vice president said he believes most of the victims’ remains will be recovered — though likely not all.

His comments come just days after a historic peace agreement, brokered by President Trump, brought an end to the two-year-long war between Israel and Hamas. Under the terms of the deal, Hamas faces a 72-hour deadline to release the remaining 48 hostages still believed to be in Gaza.

Images from Tel Aviv on Thursday night showed crowds celebrating in the streets after the deal was announced, marking the first real sign of hope for families who have spent two years in anguish.

Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity last week that he expects the hostages still in Hamas custody to be released by Monday.

The road to peace remains fragile, but for many families, the chance to finally bring loved ones home — or at least lay them to rest — marks a step toward healing after unimaginable loss.