As Trump Warns Hamas to Release Hostages Before Inauguration, Israel Recovers 2 Bodies

JERUSALEM, Israel – Israeli troops recovered the bodies of two hostages during an operation in Gaza today.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the remains of Yosef Al Zaydani and his son Hamzah were recovered. The men had been taken captive during Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

Approximately 100 hostages are still being held captive by the terrorist group and its supporters in Gaza. While Israel believes a third of the remaining hostages are dead, Yosef and Hamzah Al Zaydani were believed to still be alive.

After all the talk about hostage negotiations over the past year, it appears that a deal may really happen before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated. 

During his first press conference since being certified by Congress as the next U.S. president, Trump repeated for emphasis what he has said will happen if Hamas doesn't free all the hostages.

"If they're not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East and it will not be good for Hamas and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone. All hell will break out," the president-elect repeated again on a podcast Tuesday with conservative Hugh Hewitt.

Steve Witkoff, Middle East envoy in the next administration, remarked about Trump, "What he said, he expects. The red lines he's put out there, that's driving this negotiation."

Trump expressed anger about how Hamas has treated the hostages.

"That beautiful girl where they (Hamas) threw her in the car, pulled her by her ponytail, and threw her in the car like she was a sack of potatoes," he recalled. "I said, what happened to her? So, she's dead. Like a 19, 20-year-old beautiful girl."

Trump added, "They should have never taken them. There should have never been the attack of October 7th."

Witkoff is taking part indirectly in the hostage talks in Doha, Qatar. "I think that we've had some really great progress," he stated. "And I'm really hopeful that by the inaugural we'll have some good things to announce."

Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with an international task force that includes the U.S. The task force was formed to seek ways to free the hostages, as negotiations ramp up in Doha.

Israel is taking part in the task force, and the only hold-up seems to be the unreasonable demands by Hamas.

"There is a major scar on our nation," Herzog said. "There is a major scar on the face of the earth – the issue of the hostages. We want them back home as soon as possible. It's a huge task."

Israeli Foreign Ministry Director-General Eden Bar-Tal declared, "Hamas is the only reason and the only obstacle to the release of hostages, including children, babies, men, women."

Qatari officials admit the negotiations are tough, so they won't speculate on their success.

"When an agreement takes place, it will take place and we will announce it at that time. But right now I don't think it's useful to speculate," said Majid al-Ansari, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman.

On another front, Israel has made it clear that it wiped out most of Iran's defenses three months ago, leaving the path open for the Jewish nation to safely attack the Islamic regime's nuclear facilities.

However, Iran has released a video of military air exercises it says is proof Tehran still has air defenses. The video shows simulated bombers targeting Iran's nuclear site being bombed out of the sky.

Iran Revolutionary Guard Commander-in-Chief Gen. Hossein Salami explained they conducted the exercise "to test the capabilities of our air defense in a situation close to reality."

Iran claimed it was able to knock out all incoming attackers within 15 seconds.

***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you receive the latest news alerts and updates.***