Israel and Gaza brace for the release of hostages and prisoners, as authorities prepare for a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict. With a Monday deadline looming, the ceasefire deal's stipulation for a hostage and prisoner swap could potentially end the two-year war in Gaza. Hamas is set to release all living hostages within 72 hours of the deal's signing, with 48 hostages in their custody, 20 of whom are believed to be alive. An international taskforce will search for the remaining hostages, many presumed buried under the rubble in Gaza's devastated Strip. Israel, in turn, will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees, with the majority being sent to Gaza or exiled to neighboring countries, though the release timing remains unspecified.
The US President, Donald Trump, is set to visit Jerusalem on Monday, coinciding with the hostage-detainee swap, and will address the Knesset. He will also meet with families of the hostages. Following this, Trump will travel to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt to co-chair a 'peace summit' with leaders from over 20 countries, aiming to finalize a permanent truce in Gaza. Despite the deal's uncertain path, Trump expressed confidence in a continued ceasefire, citing a consensus on the way forward.
The hostage-detainee swap marks the initial step in Trump's 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza. A ceasefire has been in effect since Friday, but negotiations are required to finalize the Trump plan's details before a lasting end to the war is achieved. Palestinians eagerly await the ceasefire's extension into a permanent end to the war, following two years of an Israeli campaign that devastated the Strip, resulting in over 67,000 Palestinian deaths and 170,000 injuries. Israel faces accusations of genocide in Gaza from a UN commission of inquiry and several human rights bodies, which it denies, characterizing its actions as self-defense.
Preparations in Israel are underway to receive the hostages, who will be taken to a military base for examination before being transferred to hospitals. Israeli authorities have conducted drills using actors to practice the release process. Families in Israel eagerly await the return of their loved ones, with Hagai Angrest expressing excitement for his son Matan's release. In Tel Aviv, tens of thousands gathered in 'Hostages Square' to celebrate, with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in attendance. The crowd praised Trump but booed when Witkoff mentioned the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
In the occupied West Bank, families prepare to welcome their loved ones released from Israeli jails. Israeli authorities have instructed families to maintain a low-profile celebration and limit media interactions. Approximately 2,000 Palestinian detainees are set to be released around the same time as the hostages. About 1,700 are from Gaza, while 250 are long-term Israeli prisoners, including Palestinian leaders. Half of these prisoners will be released to Gaza or neighboring countries, while the other half will be sent to the West Bank or East Jerusalem.
As preparations for the hostage swap progress, humanitarian groups prepare to send aid into Gaza. Cogat, the Israeli military agency overseeing humanitarian aid in Gaza, anticipates around 600 trucks entering the Strip daily, starting Sunday, restoring aid levels to prewar standards after months of severe restrictions. The UN has approximately 170,000 metric tonnes of food, medicine, and other humanitarian aid ready for Gaza, including tents, high-energy food for malnourished children, and menstrual hygiene supplies. This aid restoration follows the Israeli siege on Gaza, which led to famine in parts of the territory, resulting in at least 459 deaths from hunger over the past two years.
The Trump plan mandates the restoration of regular aid, with the UN resuming coordination of supplies into Gaza after being barred by Israel for months. The role of the private Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, intended to replace the UN in aid distribution, remains unclear, as its logistics sites in Gaza have ceased operations since the ceasefire deal. The foundation faced criticism for its distribution model, marked by overcrowding and deaths, with over 1,000 people killed by Israeli soldiers during the daily scramble for food at GHF sites. The GHF denied any wrongdoing.
The US will deploy up to 200 troops in Israel to assist in establishing a taskforce for stabilization efforts in Gaza. No US troops will be deployed within Gaza, but they will advise the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) from within Israel. The head of US Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper, met with the Israeli military chief, Eyal Zamir, during a visit to Gaza alongside Witkoff and Kushner, emphasizing the establishment of the CMCC.
