Israel expects all 20 living hostages held by Hamas to be released early Monday morning in a carefully coordinated operation that will see them transported in six to eight vehicles to the Red Cross before reuniting with their families.
Shosh Bedrosian, spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, confirmed the nation stands ready to receive the captives after a 72-hour deadline expires at noon local time on Monday. “Israel is ready. If a living hostage requires any urgent medical attention, they will be brought to a medical facility immediately,” she told reporters on Saturday.
The release marks the first phase of President Donald Trump’s landmark ceasefire deal that brought an end to two years of devastating conflict in Gaza, which has left more than 67,000 Palestinians dead and the territory in ruins.
“The release of our hostages will begin early Monday morning,” Ms Bedrosian stated. “We are expecting all 20 of our living hostages to be released together at one time to the Red Cross and transported among six to eight vehicles without any sick displays by Hamas, the terror organisation.”
The hostages will be driven to Israeli forces positioned in controlled parts of Gaza before being transferred to the Re’im base in southern Israel, where emotional reunions with families await. Soroka and Barzilai hospitals in southern Israel have been placed on standby with a convoy of ambulances readied to receive the returnees.
Alongside the living captives, Hamas is also expected to release the remains of up to 28 deceased hostages. Ms Bedrosian explained these would be placed in coffins draped with the Israeli flag before being taken to a forensic institute for identification.
Gal Hirsch, Israel’s hostage coordinator, sent messages to families on Saturday confirming that preparations at hospitals and Re’im camp are complete. He informed them that an international taskforce will begin work to locate any deceased hostages not returned within the 72-hour period, though officials warned the search could take considerable time as some bodies may be buried under rubble.
In exchange for the hostages, Israel will release approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 people serving life sentences and 1,700 individuals seized from Gaza during the war who have been held without charge. The timing of the Palestinian prisoner release had not been announced by Sunday evening.
President Trump is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Monday morning, where he will meet with families of hostages and address the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, according to a schedule released by the White House. He will then continue to Egypt for a peace summit in Sharm El-Sheikh.
The Egyptian President’s office confirmed that Trump will co-chair the gathering with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, with leaders from more than 20 countries expected to attend, including British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.
At Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Saturday night, thousands of Israelis gathered for a massive rally ahead of the expected release. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff addressed the emotional crowd, receiving thunderous applause when Trump’s name was mentioned, though boos erupted at references to Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Ivanka Trump delivered a message from her father to the assembled families: “He sees you, he hears you, he stands with you always.” The crowd responded with chants of “Thank you, Trump.”
As the hostage release prepares to unfold, humanitarian preparations are ramping up for a massive influx of aid into Gaza. COGAT, the Israeli defence body overseeing humanitarian assistance, said aid volume is likely to increase to around 600 trucks per day as stipulated in the agreement.
Egypt dispatched 400 trucks carrying medical supplies, tents, blankets, food and fuel into Gaza on Sunday. The vehicles must undergo inspection by Israeli forces before entering the territory. Associated Press footage showed dozens of trucks crossing the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing.
In recent months, the UN and its partners have been able to deliver only 20% of the aid needed in Gaza due to fighting, border closures and Israeli restrictions. Expanding Israeli offensives and restrictions on humanitarian aid have triggered a hunger crisis, with famine declared in parts of the territory.
The UN confirmed it has approximately 170,000 metric tons of food, medicine and other humanitarian aid ready to enter Gaza once Israel gives the green light. Abeer Etifa, spokesperson for the World Food Programme, said workers were clearing and repairing roads inside Gaza on Sunday to facilitate delivery.
The Rafah crossing from southern Gaza into Egypt is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, according to Italy’s Defence Ministry, in coordination with European Union authorities and the White House.
As Palestinians began returning to their homes on Friday, Israeli military spokespeople warned residents not to approach forces stationed in designated areas within Gaza. “Do not approach IDF forces in these areas until further notice. Approaching these forces puts you at serious risk,” the statement read.
The ceasefire that took effect on Friday represents the third major cessation of hostilities since the conflict began with Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on 7th October 2023. That assault killed approximately 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage.
A previous ceasefire that began in January collapsed after two months when Israel resumed its military offensive, having never progressed past the first stage. Significant concerns remain about the durability of the current agreement, with thorny issues such as Hamas disarmament, Gaza’s future governance, and full Israeli troop withdrawal still to be negotiated in subsequent phases.
US Central Command has established a civil-military coordination centre in Israel, deploying approximately 200 service members with expertise in transportation, planning, security, logistics and engineering to support the ceasefire operation.
Trump’s 20-point plan calls for Israel to maintain an open-ended military presence inside Gaza along its border, whilst an international force comprised largely of troops from Arab and Muslim countries including Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates would assume responsibility for security inside the enclave.
As Monday morning approaches, Israeli families are counting down every second until they can embrace loved ones who have endured unimaginable suffering. For many, the wait has felt endless, but hope finally appears on the horizon after 734 days of anguish.
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Image Credit:
Photographs of flags of Israel in Hostages Square — photo by Chenspec, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
