Israel is on the brink of a major emotional and diplomatic moment, as it expects the release of all remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza. This release is scheduled for early Monday morning under a ceasefire deal brokered with the involvement of US President Donald Trump.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian stated on Sunday that the country is “hours away from the release of all our hostages” and has been ready to receive them since Saturday night.
Key Details of the Hostage & Prisoner Exchange
A total of 48 hostages are expected to be returned as part of the agreement, with specific details on the transfer process:
- The Living Hostages: 20 living hostages are expected to be transferred simultaneously to the International Committee of the Red Cross. They will be transported across the border in six to eight vehicles and taken to the Re’im military base before being moved to hospitals for medical care. Bedrosian noted that Hamas agreed to this direct transfer without “sick displays.”
- The Deceased Hostages: The remains of the 28 deceased hostages will be returned in coffins draped with Israeli flags to a forensic institute for identification.
- Palestinian Prisoners: Israel will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees under the broader agreement. The transfer of these prisoners into Gaza is contingent on Israel first confirming that all Israeli hostages have successfully crossed into Israeli territory.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israel is “prepared and ready for the immediate reception of all our hostages.”
US and International Involvement
The hostage release coincides with a high-stakes visit by President Donald Trump:
- Trump’s Visit: Vice President JD Vance announced that President Trump is planning to travel to the Middle East to greet the hostages and will address the Knesset (Israeli parliament) after meeting with Netanyahu and the hostage families.
- Gaza Summit: Trump will then travel to Egypt to join dozens of world leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and the UK’s Keir Starmer, for a summit on Gaza’s future. The Egyptian presidency confirmed Trump will formally sign the ceasefire deal there.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed that Israel is waiting “anxiously” and that the nation will “shed tears and receive our sons and daughters back home.” The expected reunion day is described by Bedrosian as a “day of reunification and excitement for some families… while other families will grieve.”
Is there any specific detail from the original post you’d like me to focus on, or would you like to know more about the broader Trump peace plan for Gaza?
