by Sharon Rondeau
(Oct. 12, 2025) — According to Vice President J.D. Vance on today’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” the remaining hostages taken from southern Israel on October 7, 2023 by the terror group Hamas are to be released no later than Monday.
“These hostages are going to live their lives, thanks to what the United States of America did,” Vance told host Maria Bartiromo, clearly pleased at the peace agreement announced last week between Hamas and Israel, brokered by many Middle-Eastern players and the United States.
As for the deceased hostages, Vance said “some” may not be recovered, while acknowledging the importance to “religious Jews” of providing a “proper burial” for loved ones whose remains are recovered.
According to several reports, 20 hostages are believed to be alive out of a total of 48. In return, Israel is to release nearly 2,000 prisoners, approximately 250 of whom were convicted of crimes such as, murder, terrorism and assault.
Vance appeared with Bartiromo as President Donald Trump was readying to depart for Egypt and Israel to be present for what is considered an historic peace agreement to end the war in Gaza and eventually shape the area into a welcoming and safe place.
Gaza is to be rebuilt, Vance said, with the majority of funding coming from the “Gulf Arab states.”
He denied U.S. troops will be “on the ground” in Gaza as the agreement unfolds.
A “Qatari base” will not exist in the U.S., Vance said, contradicting numerous media reports.
Regarding Bartiromo’s question on issuing military paychecks despite the 12-day-old domestic partial government shutdown, Vance said the administration is “doing some pretty non-conventional things” to “make sure our troops get paid.”
“Wouldn’t it be great if the Democrats just opened up the government so we didn’t have to make these decisions?” he asked rhetorically, referring to an anticipated halt in SNAP benefits, the ability of homeowners to purchase federal flood insurance, and the choice between funding those programs and paying service-members.
On Saturday evening Trump posted on Truth Social that he had found funds to pay the military, which Vance confirmed.
The imminent elimination of thousands of government jobs as the shutdown continues is “painful,” Vance said, but will proceed.
As for China’s resolution to impose export controls on rare-earth minerals and other products utilized by the world community, Vance said “a generation of bipartisan leadership allowed” the outsourcing of manufacturing to China,” resulting in a “national emergency” for the United States.
Vance said Trump “has more cards” than China which he will use if the latter appears eager to enter into a “trade war.”