Vice President JD Vance told ABC’s This Week on Sunday that Hamas has confirmed holding 20 living hostages, who are expected to be released within the next 24 hours. The announcement comes as President Donald Trump prepares to travel to Israel and Egypt later in the day to mark the anticipated release.
“Well, they’ve been confirmed, George. Of course you don’t know until you see these people alive. But thank God we expect to see them alive here in the next 24 hours, probably early tomorrow morning, U.S. time,” Vance told co-anchor George Stephanopoulos.
“A Great Moment for the World”
Vance called the development historic, saying, “We are on the cusp of true peace in the Middle East. Really, for the first time in my lifetime, certainly these 20 hostages are going to come home to their families. Our country should be proud of our diplomats who made this happen.”
Trump is scheduled to meet with the families of the hostages Monday at the Israeli Knesset. The Wall Street Journal first reported Hamas’ confirmation of the 20 living hostages.
U.S. Role in Ceasefire Monitoring
Vance addressed reports about U.S. military involvement in the region, clarifying that no troops will enter Gaza. “That story is actually misreported. We already have troops at Central Command. We’ve had them for decades,” he said.
According to a U.S. official, 200 troops are being sent to Israel to assist with transportation, logistics, security and engineering as part of the ceasefire coordination effort. Vance emphasized that the U.S. presence will focus on monitoring compliance rather than combat.
“But the idea that we’re going to have troops on the ground in Gaza, in Israel — that is not our intention, that is not our plan,” he said.
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