Vice President JD Vance confirmed to ABC’s “This Week” co-host George Stephanopoulos that Hamas has said it has 20 live hostages and those hostages are expected to be released in the next 24 hours, as President Donald Trump heads to the region later Sunday to mark the occasion.
“Well, they’ve been confirmed, George. Of course, you won’t know until you see these people alive. But thank God we hope to see them alive here in the next 24 hours, probably early tomorrow morning US time, which will be later in the day, of course, in Israel,” Vance said.
Vice President JD Vance speaks with ABC News while appearing on This Week, October 12, 2025.
ABC News
“We’re on the cusp of real peace in the Middle East. Really, for the first time in my life, these 20 hostages will surely come home to their families, George. I think this is a great moment for our country. Our country should be proud of our diplomats who made this happen. It’s also a really great moment for the world, and that’s why the president will go there and celebrate with these hostages. But it’s a great thing, and I’m very excited. about it”, said.
Trump is scheduled to leave for his visit to Israel and Egypt on Sunday afternoon and will meet with hostage families at the Israeli Knesset on Monday.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report Hamas’ confirmation that there were 20 live hostages.
As US Central Command establishes a coordination center in Israel to support and monitor the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, Vance said it had been “erroneously reported” that additional members of the US military were being sent to the region, stating that “we already have troops in Central Command.”
A U.S. official told ABC News that 200 troops are being sent to Israel, however, to specialize in transportation, planning, logistics, security and engineering. Vance also repeated claims by senior officials that US troops are not expected to enter Gaza.
“So, that story is actually misinformed. We already have troops in Central Command. We have had them for decades in this country. They are going to monitor the terms of the ceasefire. That’s everything from ensuring that Israeli troops are on the agreed line, ensuring that Hamas is not attacking innocent Israelis, and doing everything we can to ensure that the peace that we have created really is sustained and endures,” he said. Vance.
“But the idea that we are going to have troops on the ground in Gaza, in Israel, is not our intention, it is not our plan. There was a bit of misinformation there, but we are going to monitor this peace to make sure it lasts,” he added.
