The Israeli cabinet, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has given the green light to U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the liberation of all remaining hostages and Palestinian detainees, as confirmed by Netanyahu’s office on Friday.
The approved plan outlines the framework for the release of the hostages, with the process set to commence on Sunday or Monday. Steve Witkoff, Trump’s chief negotiator for the Gaza crisis, stated that the U.S. military verified the withdrawal of Israeli troops as part of the ceasefire agreement on Friday morning.
According to Witkoff, the 72-hour countdown for the release of the hostages has officially begun, as announced on social media. During a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Trump emphasized the complexity of the hostage release operation, noting the challenging locations involved.
Key details regarding the exchange mechanism remain limited. The accord mandates the release of 48 hostages from Gaza within 72 hours of the military’s repositioning, including 20 individuals known to be alive. Hamas has acknowledged that recovering the bodies of deceased hostages could pose delays due to unidentified burial sites. Gal Hirsch, Israel’s hostage coordinator, mentioned the involvement of an international force in locating the remains of undiscovered deceased hostages.
Following the hostage release, Israel will reciprocate by freeing 250 Palestinians convicted or suspected of security offenses, along with 1,700 adults, 22 minors detained during the conflict in Gaza, and the bodies of 360 combatants. Palestinian detainees held in Gaza will return to the region, whereas those convicted of killing Israelis will either be deported abroad or relocated to Gaza, with permanent exclusion from the West Bank and Israel.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will oversee the exchange process, having played similar roles in prior ceasefire events during the conflict. While preparations are underway, the ICRC has not received detailed information regarding the timing, methods, or locations of the upcoming releases.
Notably, the list of Palestinian prisoners slated for release does not include high-profile figures like Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Sa’adat, Ibrahim Hamed, and Hassan Salameh. Instead, individuals such as Ra’ad Sheikh and Iyad Abu al-Rub are among those listed for release, according to reports from various sources.
As the ICRC braces for the challenging task ahead, Christian Cardon, the organization’s spokesperson, emphasized the tight timeline set for the hostage release. Amidst the evolving developments, uncertainties persist regarding the execution of the agreement and the logistics involved.