Israeli authorities are on standby for the return of 48 hostages—both living and deceased—following reports that the transfers could happen “at any time,” according to The Jerusalem Post. Despite that readiness, officials expect the process to begin on Monday.
Preparations are already underway for the reception of 20 surviving hostages and the remains of 28 others under the terms of the ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Hamas. With IDF forces having pulled back from parts of Gaza, medical and forensic personnel have been mobilized to handle the delicate task of identifying the victims.
Reports suggest that the first hostages could be handed over as early as Sunday under the peace framework advanced by US President Donald Trump. Trump himself said on Friday that he anticipates the return to be completed by Monday.
Brig.-Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch, Israel’s Coordinator for Hostages and Missing Persons, told families tonight that he expects the releases to begin Monday morning. He noted that all arrangements for receiving the deceased have been finalized and emphasized that the process will be carried out respectfully and with full forensic documentation.
“We demand, expect, and are working to ensure that Hamas, with the assistance of the international force, makes a full (100%) effort to complete the mission and return all deceased hostages so they may be laid to rest in Israel,” he affirmed.
Under the ceasefire terms, Hamas was granted a 72-hour window to release the captives once Israeli troops withdrew from designated areas in Gaza on Friday. A senior Hamas official told Agence France-Presse that the first releases would indeed take place Monday.
President Trump is expected to make a brief visit to Israel on Monday morning. He is scheduled to meet with hostage families upon arrival and address the Knesset before departing later that day.
In anticipation of the hostages’ return, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu visited Sheba Medical Center on Friday to inspect preparations. At the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute, teams have completed detailed readiness plans to identify 28 sets of remains, marking one of the most sensitive missions in Israel’s medical history.
The Abu Kabir process will use advanced scientific methods—CT scans, DNA matching, dental records, and anthropological comparisons—to ensure accurate identification.
Arab media reported that Hamas had started gathering the bodies of deceased hostages for repatriation, though Israeli officials are skeptical that all remains can be located quickly, which could result in delays.
Following the ceasefire’s activation, the IDF redeployed its forces along the agreed lines inside Gaza on Friday. By today, thousands of Palestinians were seen moving northward—on foot, in cars, and on donkey carts—trying to return to the homes they abandoned during the fighting.
Meanwhile, about 200 American military personnel have arrived in Israel to assist in overseeing the Trump peace agreement, an official familiar with the operation told ABC News. These troops are specialists in logistics, transportation, planning, and security coordination.
On Friday, Israel’s Justice Ministry published the official list of Palestinian prisoners who will be freed as part of the deal to recover the hostages. The roster includes 250 inmates serving life sentences, along with 1,700 additional detainees—among them women and minors—who were arrested since Hamas’s October 7 massacre.
Among those slated for release are Ra’ad Sheikh, a Palestinian police officer involved in the infamous Ramallah lynching, and Iyad Abu al-Rub, a senior Islamic Jihad commander from Jenin linked to multiple suicide bombings, including the Shdei Terumot grocery attack in 2003, the Sting Club bombing in 2004, and the 2005 Hadera market attack.
According to Walla, the ratio of Palestinian prisoners to Israeli hostages in this exchange is the lowest Israel has agreed to in decades.
Tonight, approximately 400,000 people assembled at Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square ahead of the anticipated returns. Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, along with Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, addressed the crowd.
“I dreamed of this night,” Witkoff began. “It’s been a long journey.” Gazing out at the massive audience, he continued: “You have carried the weight of hope on your shoulders for the entire world. You’ve prayed, you’ve persevered. And you’ve shown the world that peace is not weakness. It is the highest form of strength. Through heartbreak and fear, you have never let go of the faith,” Witkoff said.
{Matzav.com}
