Hostage releases from Gaza were expected to begin in the early hours of Monday, with transfers reported from three separate locations. Israel said it was ready to receive freed hostages, while Hamas pressed for the release of high-profile Palestinian prisoners — a major sticking point in final negotiations. US former President Donald Trump was due in Israel early that morning and is set to meet families and speak in the Knesset.
What is happening and when
Israeli officials told families they expected the handovers to begin between 4:00 and 6:00 a.m. local time, though they warned the timetable could change. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is to inform Israel roughly two hours before any planned release.
Shortly afterwards, US President Donald Trump was scheduled to arrive in Israel at 9:20 a.m., with a brief visit that includes meeting ex-hostages and their families and speaking in the Knesset before travelling on to a regional summit in Egypt.
Where the hostages will be handed over
Hamas indicated the living hostages would be released from three different locations across the Gaza Strip. Hamas representatives were reported to meet with the Red Cross on Sunday night to agree logistics and the exact handover mechanism. Israeli authorities said they were prepared to receive hostages earlier than planned if needed.
Who will be released — living and deceased
20 living hostages were expected to be handed over in the first stage.
28 hostages are believed to be dead; Hamas and mediators have said not all bodies may be located by the planned deadline, and the return of some remains may take longer.
Israel has reported a mixture of confirmed living, confirmed dead and a small number whose status remains uncertain; families have been told some remains may not be returned in the first stage of the deal. An international taskforce will work to locate remains that cannot be immediately handed over.
The prisoner swap: what Israel will release
Under the agreement, Israel is to free nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees, including about 250 serving life sentences, plus hundreds of Gazans — some to be deported overseas and others returned to the West Bank or Gaza. The government published lists of the prisoners slated for release and moved them to detention facilities ahead of handovers.
The big controversy: Hamas’ demand for senior names
Hamas reportedly sought the release of several high-profile prisoners, including names often cited in reporting such as Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Sa’adat. Israeli officials and media differ on which names were included or excluded from the final list, and that disagreement was central to last-minute negotiations.
Negotiators continued talks on Sunday morning to resolve outstanding issues over the prisoner list and the logistics and timing of the first phase of the exchange.
Domestic reactions in Israel
Public and political responses were mixed and often sharp:
President Isaac Herzog called the agreement “painful but historic,” saying it offered a chance for a new horizon of hope in the region.
Hard-line figures, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and some hostage-family groups, criticised the terms and urged tougher action; some called for resumption of fighting if compromises appeared too lenient.
Security and West Bank operations
Ahead of the releases, Israeli forces reportedly conducted raids in the West Bank on homes of prisoners due to be freed, and warned families against public celebrations that might be construed as praising terror or incitement. Authorities moved many of the detainees to Ofer and Ketziot prisons pending their release.
Quick facts
Hostages expected to be released early Monday, between 04:00–06:00 local time (subject to change).
20 living hostages to be handed over in first phase; up to 28 dead whose remains may be returned later.
The ICRC will coordinate handovers and give Israel ~2 hours’ notice.
~2,000 Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel, including ~250 life-term prisoners. Donald Trump scheduled to arrive in Israel at 09:20 a.m. on Monday and to attend a summit in Egypt.
Why this matters
This exchange marks a major, emotionally charged milestone after nearly two years of conflict that began with the October 7, 2023 attacks. The deal has both humanitarian and strategic implications: the immediate return of hostages will offer relief to families and the public, while the release of convicted militants raises hard questions about security, deterrence and the future of Gaza. International actors are now tasked with supervising implementation, returning remains, and pushing for longer-term steps to stabilise the region.
Sources
Times of Israel — “Hostage releases set to begin early Monday…” (live updates and feature reporting). The Times of Israel
The Guardian — live coverage of hostage handovers and immediate developments. The Guardian
Al Jazeera — reporting on handovers and Red Cross coordination. Al Jazeera
Associated Press — background on the deal, numbers and international response. AP News
i24News / other Israeli media — details on prisoner lists and logistics. i24NEWS+1
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