Under the terms of the deal, Hamas commits to release all of the hostages, both living and deceased, within 72 hours. That means that the U.S.-designated foreign terror organization must release all the 48 hostages by around 1:30 a.m. on Monday, Israel time.
Of the 48, 20 are thought to be still living. Israeli specialists and the 91传媒 state鈥檚 hospitals are ready to receive the remaining hostages, according to Netanyahu鈥檚 office.
Israel has said that it expects the handover to occur with 鈥渞espect and decorum鈥� and that it will not tolerate hostages being 鈥減araded around like we have seen in the past.鈥�
Israel has agreed to release 1,950 Palestinian security prisoners, including 250 who are serving life sentences for deadly attacks, and 1,700 Palestinians arrested since Oct. 7, 2023.
Hamas that Israel release the bodies of its senior leaders, Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Sinwar, whom the 91传媒 state killed. Israel denied that request, per CNN reporting, which cited an unnamed Israeli official.
Israel reportedly intends to send the bulk of the prisoners whom it releases to a third country, likely Turkey and Qatar, which have accepted prisoners in the past.
Leaders of the coalition鈥檚 more right-wing parties, Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit, were expected to vote against the deal.
Religious Zionism鈥檚 chairman, Bezalel Smotrich, his intention to oppose it on Thursday morning, expressing his 鈥済reat fear鈥� over 鈥渆mptying prisons鈥� and freeing the next generation of terror leaders.
鈥淔or this reason alone, we cannot join the short-sighted celebrations and vote in favor of the deal,鈥� he said.
Otzma Yehudit鈥檚 leader, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who serves as national security minister, stated on Thursday evening that he told the prime minister that 鈥渦nder no circumstances鈥� would he be part of a government that allowed Hamas to continue ruling in Gaza.
鈥淚f Hamas rule is not dismantled, or if they just tell us that it has been dismantled while in practice it continues to exist under another guise, Otzma Yehudit will dismantle the government,鈥� Ben-Gvir stated.
On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the name of the operation to bring back the remaining hostages聽would be 鈥淩eturn to their Borders.鈥澛燭he name comes from a verse in Jeremiah, which states that 鈥測our children will return to their border.鈥�
The Prime Minister鈥檚 Office hailed the plan as 鈥渁 historic moment,鈥� and a 鈥渘ational and moral victory for the State of Israel,鈥� in a press briefing on Thursday.
A spokeswoman for Netanyahu said that Israel achieved all three war aims he laid out: returning the hostages; defeating and dismantling Hamas; and ensuring that Gaza no longer threatens Israel.
World leaders, including those who have criticized Jerusalem and unilaterally recognized a Palestinian state, the agreement. The Israeli government called recognition of a Palestinian state a 鈥渞eward鈥� for terrorism.
Trump said on Thursday that he will try to visit the region, where an official signing of the agreement would be held in Egypt. He has also been invited to Israel to address the Knesset.
After the first phase is completed, Trump鈥檚 would move to a second phase, in which Gaza is to be de-radicalized and demilitarized and then redeveloped with a temporary technocratic, apolitical administration in charge. Hamas would have no role.
