United States President Donald Trump has announced when Israeli hostages currently held by Hamas in Gaza are expected to be released.
Trump made the announcement on Thursday, October 9, following a ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas, a key step toward ending the two-year war that has destabilized the Middle East.
Speaking before a cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said that the hostages are expected to be released on Monday or Tuesday. In addition, the American leader discussed the deal brokered on Wednesday as the first phase of a broader plan for Gaza.
He said the agreement not only paves the way for the hostages’ release but could also lead to “lasting peace” in the region.
“Gaza is going to be slowly redone,” Trump said, referring to long-term reconstruction plans for the war-torn enclave. “We’re going to create something where people can live. You can’t live right now in Gaza.”
Trump announces Hamas will release Israeli hostages on Monday or Tuesday
According to the deal, Hamas is expected to release 20 living hostages 72 hours after the ceasefire begins. “We are getting the hostages back on Tuesday—Monday or Tuesday—and that’ll be a day of joy,” Trump said.
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He acknowledged, however, that recovering the bodies of deceased hostages may prove more difficult.
“Some of the bodies are going to be a little bit hard to find,” he added.
Further details of the broader plan, including terms of reconstruction and international involvement, have yet to be made public.
Trump also expressed his intention to attend a formal signing ceremony in Egypt and to address the Israeli Knesset, with the White House scrambling to work out the details of the hastily arranged trip.
The Israeli Knesset has asked him to speak, and the president said he was planning to do so if requested.
While questions remain about what happens in the region in the long term, Trump said he hoped it would lead to “an everlasting peace.”
Israeli Cabinet approves Trump’s plan for Gaza ceasefire and release of hostages
Meanwhile, Israel’s Cabinet early Friday approved a plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
A brief statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the Cabinet approved the “outline” of a deal to release the hostages. The statement did not mention other elements of the plan.
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The broader ceasefire plan includes unresolved issues, such as the disarmament of Hamas and the future governance of Gaza.
The United States is preparing to send approximately 200 troops to Israel to assist in monitoring the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
According to U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity, the troops will support a multinational team that includes partner nations, nongovernmental organizations, and private-sector actors. U.S. Central Command is expected to establish a civil-military coordination center in Israel to help manage the flow of humanitarian aid and provide logistical and security assistance related to the ceasefire.
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