Overview of the proposed exchange
The Israeli government and Hamas, with the backing of the United States, have outlined a framework for the release of hostages held in Gaza and the liberation of Palestinian prisoners. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the cabinet approved the outline of a deal during a late-night session, with the intention that the hostage and prisoner exchanges begin within a short, defined window. While many specifics remain to be clarified, the core elements are clear: 48 hostages to be released within 72 hours and a reciprocal release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in stages thereafter.
What the 72-hour timeline means
The agreement specifies that within 72 hours of the Israeli military redeployment, the 48 hostages are to be released from the Gaza Strip and handed over to Israeli security forces. Of these 48, at least 20 are known to be alive. Some families and observers expect the recovery of bodies of other captives, noting that not all burial sites may be known or accessible. An international monitoring or search effort is anticipated to help locate remains when possible.
Role of the International Committee of the Red Cross
The Red Cross (ICRC) is set to facilitate the handovers. In prior ceasefires, the ICRC helped manage the transfer of hostages from Gaza and Palestinian prisoners from Israel. ICRC experts say the scale and speed of this operation will pose significant logistical challenges, given the tight 72-hour deadline and the geographic spread of those affected.
Who gets released on the Palestinian side?
After the hostages are released, Israel is expected to release a broad tranche of Palestinian detainees: about 250 individuals convicted or suspected of security-related offenses, plus around 1,700 adults and 22 minors detained in Gaza during the war. Israel also plans to return 360 bodies of fighters who have died. Palestinian detainees who will be freed are to return to Gaza. Those convicted of killing Israelis may be released to Gaza or deported abroad, with permanent restrictions on travel to the West Bank and Israel.
Who is not on the prisoner release list?
Hamas has pressed for the release of several prominent prisoners, including Marwan Barghouti, a longtime Palestinian figure imprisoned in Israel. The list of prisoners expected to be released, as published by Israeli outlets, did not include Barghouti, nor did it include Ahmad Sa’adat or senior Hamas suspects Ibrahim Hamed and Hassan Salameh. The list reportedly did include other figures such as Ra’ad Sheikh, a Palestinian police officer involved in earlier violence, and Iyad Abu al-Rub, a commander with Islamic Jihad. The absence of certain high-profile prisoners underscores the political sensitivity and the ongoing negotiations shaping who qualifies for release.
What we know about the process and the other moving parts
Trump’s team has framed the plan as “a complicated process,” highlighting the delicate balance needed to ensure the safety of hostages and the security concerns of both sides. Steve Witkoff, the U.S. negotiator, indicated that soldiers have redeployed as part of the ceasefire, signaling an important, if fragile, step toward possible exchanges.
The precise mechanism—namely, how hostages are transferred from Gaza and then safeguarded during onward handoffs to Israeli security forces—remains a subject of ongoing discussion among international mediators, the ICRC, and both parties. The White House emphasized that a ceasefire and hostage release are linked, with conditions and sequences contingent on real-time developments on the ground.
Outlook and uncertainties
While the cabinet’s approval marks a critical political milestone, many questions persist. How and where will hostages be handed over? Will there be international security guarantees or monitoring beyond the ICRC? How will the freed Palestinian detainees be transported and supervised, and what measures will prevent fresh rounds of conflict? Analysts say that the true test will be the execution phase: whether the 48-hostage release can be accomplished within 72 hours in a sustained, verifiable manner, followed by the staged release of prisoners without triggering new hostilities.
As with prior negotiations, the situation remains dynamic. Families of hostages and Palestinians in Gaza are watching closely, hoping the agreement translates into tangible, humane outcomes and a path toward longer-term stability amid a region long scarred by conflict.
