Israel and Hamas were preparing Thursday to begin implementing a deal for the release of all hostages and an end to the war in Gaza, after both sides accepted the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan. Formal approval by the Cabinet would set the process in motion.
According to the current timeline, the Security Cabinet is scheduled to meet at 3 p.m., followed an hour later by a full government session to authorize the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages as part of the first stage of the deal. The rest of the plan’s components are expected be approved at a later date, as the Cabinet has already endorsed the five guiding principles of Trump’s proposal to end the war.
After the government vote, which will give final approval to the agreement, IDF forces will be required to withdraw within 24 hours to the agreed-upon line set with Hamas. Following the pullback, Israel will retain control of about 53% of Gaza’s territory.
Although the map of the withdrawal line has not yet been revealed, an Israeli official said it is not significantly different from the “yellow line” Trump presented last weekend, with several modifications requested by Israel. As part of the withdrawal, the IDF will leave Gaza City, which it had begun to seize under Operation Gideon's Chariots II.
Once the withdrawal is complete, a 72-hour countdown will begin, during which Hamas must release all hostages at once and without public ceremonies. According to Israeli estimates, Hamas is holding 20 hostages confirmed to be alive and the remains of 28 others. The group has told mediators it does not know the exact locations of nine of those bodies.
The release could take place as early as Saturday, ensuring the freed hostages are in Israel when President Trump arrives. The U.S. president is expected to land in Israel on Sunday and address the Knesset.
“This is a great day for the world,” Trump said Thursday evening. “The entire world has come together around this. Israel, every nation. It’s been a fantastic, wonderful day for everyone.” The White House celebrated the achievement overnight, posting a photo of Trump with the caption “The Peace President.”
No Nukhba or ‘aces’ among released prisoners
An Israeli official told Ynet overnight that the deal will not include the release of members of Hamas’ elite Nukhba force who were involved in the October 7 massacre, nor the four high-profile jailed terrorists known as “the aces” whose release Hamas had demanded.
Hostage families react to announcement of the deal
(Video: Lihi Gordon)
The final list of Palestinian prisoners to be freed has not yet been agreed upon. Hamas submitted names to Israel, and the Prime Minister’s Office responded with minor revisions. Hamas confirmed it is waiting for final approval of the prisoner list, adding, “We promise the prisoners who remain in jail and their families that they will stay at the top of our priorities and we will not rest until the last prisoner is freed.”
The Israeli official said the agreed withdrawal line, a modified version of Trump’s “yellow line”, does not endanger Israel’s security. “It guarantees us entry wherever needed if, God forbid, we must return,” he said.
International task force to recover remains of missing hostages from Gaza
As part of the ceasefire agreement, an international task force will be established to locate and recover the remains of hostages who are presumed dead but have not yet been returned.
Hamas has committed to returning the bodies of those whose locations it can confirm. However, the group claims it does not know the whereabouts of nine out of the 28 deceased hostages.
The task force, agreed upon during negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh, will include representatives from Israel, the United States, Egypt and Qatar. It will operate on the ground in Gaza to gather intelligence and apply all available capabilities to locate and recover the missing remains. The force may call on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for assistance if necessary.
Hostages and missing persons envoy Gal Hirsch contacted the ICRC before the Israeli delegation departed for the talks in Egypt, requesting their help in the recovery process. “We are not stopping our efforts and will spare no resource until every one of our hostages is brought home,” Hirsch told Ynet. “The mission will not be complete until all are returned — the living and the dead.”
Israeli officials clarified that the 72-hour countdown for Hamas to return all hostages and remains will begin only after the IDF completes its withdrawal to the agreed-upon "yellow line." Negotiators in Sharm el-Sheikh are still finalizing the list of Palestinian prisoners to be released. Once that list is completed, the Israeli delegation will return home, the government will convene to give final approval and the IDF will receive authorization to withdraw.
The withdrawal is expected to begin Friday. Once completed, the 72-hour clock will start, with all hostages and remains scheduled to be returned by the deadline. In parallel, Israel is working to reinforce the Red Cross’ manpower and logistical capacity in Gaza to ensure the release process proceeds as quickly as possible.