Israel Readies to Receive Hostages as Gaza Negotiations Advance
Israel says it is prepared to immediately receive all of its hostages, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office asserting that the country stands ready to reunite families after more than two years of captivity. The looming handover follows a high-stakes ceasefire and hostage deal mediated by regional powers, including Egypt and Qatar, and supported by a U.S.-led international framework.
The final batch of 20 living Israeli captives is expected to be released by Hamas in Gaza within hours, with deadlines set for midday local time. Israeli defence and medical authorities have staged preparations to receive the captives at the border, ensuring medical and security procedures are in place to care for those coming home. The White House has indicated that President Donald Trump may appear in the region to meet some of the freed hostages during a whistle-stop tour beginning Monday.
Sources quoted by Israeli media suggested that handovers could begin as early as 4 a.m. local time, with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) prepared to provide a two-hour advance warning. The ICRC’s role is to coordinate the handover, transport released hostages to the Israel-Gaza border, and hand them over to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Alongside the hostage exchange, the broader deal will trigger the release of a significant number of Palestinian detainees held by Israel, including some serving life sentences. For many, these detainees would not have faced charges under typical judicial processes. The plan also involves deportation terms for some detainees rather than allowing them to return to the West Bank, East Jerusalem, or Gaza.
Aid delivery to Gaza has begun to resume in earnest as part of the arrangement, with hospitals and relief agencies preparing for a surge in humanitarian activity. The Nasser Hospital in Gaza is among facilities slated to examine arriving detainees within a war-ravaged health system, while aid convoys are expected to move through Kerem Shalom and the Rafah crossings. UNICEF warns that tens of thousands of children remain at risk of malnutrition and require urgent support.
On the Israeli side, the relief and cautious optimism are tempered by security concerns. Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasised that the country would continue operations against Hamas, even as the hostages return home. He underscored the overarching objective of demilitarising Gaza and neutralising Hamas’ armed capabilities, while tasking the IDF with preparing for the next phase of the mission.
The Human Dimension: Families, Aid, and Public Sentiment
For families in Israel and across the Palestinian territories, the imminent release of hostages has sparked a mixture of relief and anxiety. In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, supporters have celebrated the potential end of years of anxiety, though questions remain about the prospects for lasting peace and the conditions that would follow any ceasefire.
Gazans have also felt the impact of the agreement, with aid now arriving in larger volumes after months of humanitarian hardship. Volunteers describe a fragile but essential lifeline as food, water, and medical supplies begin to flow through border crossings into Gaza’s war-battered communities.
This moment underscores a broader international effort to broker a sustainable arrangement in a volatile region. Analysts caution that even as hostages are released, the deeper political and security questions—about Hamas’s role, the future of Gaza, and regional stability—will require careful, ongoing diplomacy and vigilant monitoring to prevent a relapse into renewed conflict.
Looking Ahead
As the world watches the handover, attention turns to the long-term framework that will govern Gaza and the broader security architecture in the region. The involvement of world leaders, including U.S. figures and regional powers, signals a rare convergence of interests aimed at de-escalating tensions and delivering tangible humanitarian relief. The coming days will reveal whether a fragile compromise can translate into durable peace or whether new fault lines will emerge, challenging the resolve of those who brokered the deal.
