Israeli hostages set to be released from Gaza

(NewsNation) — As President Trump began his journey to the Middle East on Sunday, Israeli hostages held in Gaza were expected to be released within hours after Hamas agreed to the terms of a ceasefire in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli officials believe about 20 of the hostages out of 48 held by Hamas and other Palestinian factions in Gaza are still alive. All of the living hostages could be home as soon as Monday, officials have said.

“Israel is prepared and ready to immediately receive all of our hostages,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.

Israel's Cabinet approved the framework of the deal on Thursday.

US monitoring hostage release plan, ceasefire deal

Since President Trump announced the deal, U.S. service members began arriving in Israel to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said up to 200 U.S. personnel already stationed with Central Command will be tasked with monitoring the peace agreement in Israel and will work with other international forces on the ground.

Leavitt also clarified that not all of those 200 troops will be on the ground in Israel, with some possibly being deployed while others assist from afar. The U.S. will also be coordinating with other international partners already in the region, including Egyptian and Qatari forces.

Trump was slated to visit Israel to meet with families of hostages and speak at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. He is also scheduled to travel to Egypt to co-chair a peace summit alongside leaders from more than 20 countries to discuss peace in Gaza and the broader Middle East.

Displaced Palestinians returning home

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, who were displaced during the war, have now been heading home to Gaza as Phase 1 of Trump’s ceasefire went into effect.

More than 67,000 Palestinians have died in the war sparked by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, when militants went on a rampage in Israel and killed 1,200 people, mostly Israelis. Palestinians in Gaza have also died from malnutrition, with the local health ministry saying last month at least 440 people, including 147 children, have succumbed.

“Citizens receive the news with great caution," Fadel Mghari, a freelance Gaza-based photojournalist, told NewsNation.

"There are simple and few manifestations of joy mixed with some pain on those we lost, and what we lost from a great loss in all walks of life, from homes, schools, streets and hospitals."

The war has destroyed large swaths of Gaza and displaced about 90% of the enclave's 2 million residents.