Hours away from freedom: Israel prepares for hostages' release under Trump plan

After two years of war, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has entered a critical phase, with the release of all remaining Israeli hostages from Gaza expected early Monday under a plan brokered with US President Donald Trump's involvement.

Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said Sunday that the country is "hours away from the release of all our hostages", and that Israel has been ready "since Saturday night to receive our hostages".

Bedrosian explained that Hamas could have released the hostages two years ago but is now set to transfer the 20 living hostages at the same time to the Committee of the Red Cross.

They will be transported in six to eight vehicles across the border into Israel and taken to Re'im military base, before being moved to hospitals for medical attention.

The 28 deceased hostages will be returned in coffins draped with Israeli flags to a forensic institute for identification. "In previous hostage releases, Hamas has staged macabre ceremonies before transferring the people they kidnapped over to the Red Cross, both living and deceased. This time round, the 20 living hostages held in Gaza will 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," Bedrosian said.

The spokesperson also addressed the Palestinian prisoners scheduled for release under the ceasefire deal. "The Palestinian prisoners will be released once Israel has confirmation that all of our hostages set to be released tomorrow are across the border into Israel," she said.

"The prisoners will likely already be on the buses that will take them into Gaza on Monday, awaiting confirmation of the hostage release. The buses will set off once the transfer has been verified."

Bedrosian reiterated that "tomorrow will be a day of reunification and excitement for some families who have waited two years to embrace their loved ones, while other families will grieve the return of their loved ones".

Israel expects the transfer of all 20 living hostages early Monday morning, though an earlier release is possible. "We are expecting them tomorrow, but if there is an early release, we will be there to receive them," Bedrosian said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that Israel is "prepared and ready for the immediate reception of all our hostages". Netanyahu spoke with Hostage and Missing Persons Coordinator Gal Hirsch and said the country is ready to receive both living and deceased hostages.

A total of 48 hostages are expected to be released as part of this week's ceasefire agreement, with 20 presumed alive, 25 believed dead, and two of uncertain status.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the media while standing among the families of hostages taken on 7 October 2023. He said Israel is waiting "anxiously" for the remaining hostages and that Hamas is under a "full obligation" to release all of them.

Herzog added that Israel will "meticulously follow up" to ensure their freedom, and remarked that "we will shed tears and receive our sons and daughters back home".

Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday that the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza could be released "at any moment now," ahead of the Monday deadline.

"It really should be any moment now," he told NBC News' "Meet the Press."

He added that President Trump is planning to travel to the Middle East to greet the hostages Monday morning Middle Eastern Time, which would be late Sunday night or very early Monday morning in the United States.

The release coincides with Trump's planned visit to Israel, where he will address the Knesset after meeting with Netanyahu and the families of the hostages.

He will then travel to Egypt with dozens of world leaders, including France's Emmanuel Macron and the UK's Keir Starmer, for a summit on Gaza's future. The Egyptian presidency confirmed that Trump will formally sign the ceasefire deal and discuss the next phases of the plan.

Under the broader agreement, Israel will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, while Hamas will release all remaining hostages.

Bedrosian clarified that the transfer of Palestinian prisoners into Gaza will only occur once Israel confirms the hostages have crossed into Israeli territory.

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