Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on Friday that the cabinet has given the green light to U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The plan also includes the release of all remaining hostages and Palestinian prisoners. The approved deal outlines the process for releasing the hostages, with initial steps expected to commence on Sunday or Monday.
Steve Witkoff, the lead negotiator for Trump in the Gaza conflict, confirmed that Israeli troops have started to withdraw in line with the ceasefire agreement. According to Witkoff’s social media post at 7 a.m. ET, the 72-hour countdown for the release of hostages has officially begun.
During a recent cabinet meeting, Trump described the hostage release as a complex operation, emphasizing the challenging locations where they are held. Specific details on the exchange mechanism remain limited at this stage.
The agreement stipulates that within 72 hours after the military repositioning, all 48 hostages must be freed from Gaza and transferred to Israeli security authorities. This group includes 20 known living hostages, while the retrieval of deceased hostages may require additional time as not all burial locations are identified.
Israel’s hostage coordinator, Gal Hirsch, mentioned that an international team will assist in locating any deceased hostages not accounted for by Hamas. Subsequently, Israel will release 250 Palestinian individuals involved in security offenses, along with 1,700 adults and 22 minors detained in Gaza during the conflict, along with the bodies of 360 combatants.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will oversee the exchange process, having previously been involved in similar operations during past ceasefires. The ICRC’s role is to ensure the safe transfer of hostages out of Gaza to predetermined locations post-agreement.
While the release of hostages and prisoners is imminent, the ICRC acknowledges the complexity of this operation due to its scale and rapid execution. The organization is preparing for various scenarios as details regarding the timing, methods, and locations of the releases are yet to be fully disclosed.
Hamas is advocating for the release of high-profile Palestinian convicts held in Israeli penitentiaries. Notably, the published prisoner list does not include prominent figures like Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Sa’adat, Ibrahim Hamed, and Hassan Salameh. However, individuals such as Ra’ad Sheikh and Iyad Abu al-Rub have been identified for release, each associated with distinct historical events.
The list of 250 prisoners earmarks different destination points for their release, with some individuals slated for deportation or permanent exclusion from certain regions. Marwan Barghouti’s absence from the prisoner roster is notable, given his significance in Palestinian politics and lengthy incarceration history.