Hamas is poised to release all surviving hostages on Monday as part of a deal that will see the exchange of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. This significant development coincides with a visit to the region by US President Donald Trump, who declared the war “over” as he heads to a peace summit.
Trump’s rapid trip to Israel and Egypt is intended to celebrate the ceasefire and hostage release agreement brokered last week. However, this comes at a time of uncertainty as negotiations between Israel and Hamas continue regarding the next steps in the conflict.
According to a spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel expects to receive all 20 surviving hostages via the Red Cross early Monday morning. The plan stipulates that once the hostages are returned, Israel will release approximately 2,000 detainees in exchange.
Speaking from Air Force One, Trump expressed confidence in the longevity of the ceasefire, remarking, “I think it’s going to hold. I think people are tired of it. It’s been centuries.” He reiterated, “The war is over. Okay? You understand that?”
During his visit, Trump plans to meet with the families of the hostages taken by Hamas during a cross-border attack two years prior. He will also address the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, marking a moment of triumph for his involvement in brokering a 20-point peace plan announced in late September.
Among the key US officials accompanying Trump are Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA chief John Ratcliffe, and top military officer Dan Caine.
Negotiators were still finalizing the details late Sunday, with two Hamas sources informing AFP that the group is insisting Israel include seven senior Palestinian leaders in the list of prisoners to be released. Israel has previously rejected at least one of these names. Despite this, the sources indicated that Hamas and its allies have completed preparations to hand over all living hostages.
While all 47 hostages abducted during Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, are expected to be released, Israel does not anticipate receiving all deceased hostages at this time. In addition, Hamas is expected to return the remains of a soldier killed in a previous Gaza conflict in 2014.
Following his visit to Israel, Trump will travel to Egypt, where he and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will host a summit with over 20 world leaders to support his plan for ending the Gaza conflict and fostering stability in the region. Trump is seeking to clarify the uncertainties surrounding the subsequent phases of his peace plan, notably Hamas’s stance on disarmament and Israel’s commitment to a full withdrawal from Gaza.
The US president claimed to have secured “guarantees” from both sides and other regional players concerning the initial phase of the agreement. Trump stated, “I don’t think they’re going to want to disappoint me.”
Additionally, Trump expressed a desire to visit Gaza in the future but did not specify when this might be feasible, given the significant security challenges involved. His plan includes the formation of a new governing body for Gaza that he would oversee. As part of this plan, a multi-national force would replace Israeli troops during a partial withdrawal from the territory, coordinated through a US-led command center located in Israel.
The ongoing campaign in Gaza has resulted in at least 67,806 fatalities, according to estimates from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, which the United Nations considers credible. The figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but they suggest that over half of the casualties are women and children.
