President Donald Trump described the ongoing recovery of deceased hostages as a “gruesome process,” offering a somber update on the situation during remarks on October 13, 2025.

“They returned some more today,” Trump said. “It’s a gruesome process. I almost hate to talk about it, but they’re digging... some died in tunnels that are way down under the earth... It’s a horrible atrocity.”

The president’s comments came amid ongoing efforts by Israeli and U.S. teams to locate and recover the bodies of hostages who perished while being held by Hamas in underground tunnels across Gaza. The operation follows the ceasefire agreement and hostage release deal that Trump helped broker earlier this month.

Officials say the recovery process has been physically and emotionally taxing, as rescuers navigate collapsed tunnels and unstable terrain in search of victims. The president emphasized that the mission would continue until every hostage—living or deceased—is accounted for, calling the effort a testament to “unwavering commitment to justice and closure.”