Category: Middle East

Donald Trump is en route to Israel and Egypt to oversee the critical hours of a Gaza ceasefire he helped broker, as relatives of hostages “held their breath” ahead of their expected release.
For the first time, Hamas militants have agreed to release all 48 remaining hostages – 20 alive, 26 confirmed dead, and two whose lives were “serious danger” with an unknown status. The deadline for Hamas to return the captives who have been held for two years expires at midday Monday (10am BST).
Shortly afterwards, 1,700 Palestinians detained from Gaza since October 2023 and 250 more serving life sentences will be released from Israeli detention. The bodies of 360 Palestinians Israel is holding will also be returned.
Leaving to fly to Israel ahead of the planned releases, Mr Trump told reporters Trump his trip would be: “very special event”.
“We're going to have an amazing time,” he added: “This is going to be a very special time. Everybody is very excited about this moment in time.”
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CloseHerzog: As soon as hostages return, Israel is not going to warDonald Trump has said that all sides in the Middle East are “cheering at one time” as he flies there ahead of Hamas’ expected release of the Israeli hostages.
Speaking to reporters as he boarded Air Force One on Sunday, the US president said “that's never happened before”, adding that his trip to Israel and Egypt is going to be a “very special event”.
Meanwhile, Israel has warned against “any sick displays by Hamas” during the release of hostages, which a spokeswoman said is expected to take place early Monday morning.
“We are expecting all 20 of our living hostages to be released together at one time to the Red Cross and transported among six to eight vehicles without any sick displays by Hamas,” spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian said.
But if Hamas decides to free the hostages any earlier, “we will be ready to receive them”, she added. Palestinian detainees and prisoners will be released once the hostages have crossed..