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Israeli hostages held by Hamas are expected to begin being released on Monday following the Israeli Cabinet's approval of a U.S.-proposed Gaza ceasefire deal, a White House official said late Wednesday.
"The deal goes to the Israeli Cabinet tomorrow (Thursday)," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told state-run Anadolu Agency (AA).
"Once they vote yes, Israel has to withdraw to the line, which should take under 24 hours. Then the 72-hour clock begins, and Hamas will try to go earlier if possible," the official added.
"Our assessment is that hostages will begin getting released on Monday," the official noted.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had signed off on the first phase of a U.S.-proposed Gaza peace plan.
"ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace," Trump said on Truth Social, adding that all parties will be "treated fairly."
Trump also indicated he may travel to the Middle East this weekend.
Hamas stated on Thursday that it has submitted a list of Palestinians it wishes Israel to release through a prisoner exchange, in line with the ceasefire agreement.
"Hamas announces that an agreement has been reached providing for an end to the war on Gaza, the withdrawal of the occupiers, the entry of humanitarian aid, and a prisoner exchange," the group said in a statement on Telegram.
Hamas said Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails are one of its top priorities and efforts will continue "until the last Palestinian prisoner is freed."
The group appreciated the efforts of mediating brothers in Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye with great appreciation. Hamas also appreciated Trump's efforts "aimed at ultimately ending the war and the complete withdrawal of occupying Israel from the Gaza Strip."
Hamas called on guarantor states, various Arab and Islamic countries and international circles to force the Israeli government to fulfill its responsibilities under the agreement and not allow it to evade implementing what was agreed upon.
Hamas saluted Palestinians who displayed an honorable stance against Israel's plans in Gaza, Jerusalem, the West Bank and all Palestinian territories, saying "these great sacrifices and steadfastness have thwarted the occupying Israel's plans of subjugation and displacement."
"We emphasize that the sacrifices of our people will not be in vain, that we will remain faithful to the promise we made, and that we will not give up our people's national rights such as freedom, independence and the right to self-determination," the statement said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will convene the government on Thursday to approve the agreement.
"A great day for Israel," Netanyahu said on X, thanking Trump and his team for their "dedication to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages."
"With God's help, together we will continue to achieve all our goals and expand peace with our neighbors," Netanyahu said. He later said that with approval of the first phase, all Israeli hostages will be brought home.
"This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel," Netanyahu said, adding, "From the beginning, I made it clear: we will not rest until all our hostages return and all our goals are achieved."
Netanyahu also thanked Trump for the "great efforts"; this "critical turning point" was reached. "I thank President Trump for his leadership, his partnership, and his unwavering commitment to the safety of Israel and the freedom of our hostages," Netanyahu said.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also thanked Netanyahu and Trump for the deal and the "heroic" Israeli soldiers. "I warmly embrace the families of the hostages for the anticipated return of their loved ones, including Israeli army soldiers and fallen heroes, home soon," Katz said.
The Israeli army said in a statement it welcomes "the signing of the agreement for the return of the hostages" which took place overnight.
"During a situational assessment held overnight, the Chief of the General Staff instructed all forces, both on the front lines and in the rear areas, to prepare strong defenses and be ready for any scenario," the army said on X.
The Chief of the General Staff ordered preparations to take charge of the operation to bring back the hostages, which is anticipated to be "conducted with sensitivity and professionalism."
The Israeli army said it "will continue to act to achieve the objectives of the war and to defend the citizens of the State of Israel on all fronts."
Trump told Axios he is set to visit Israel in the "coming days" and could address the Knesset. "They want me to give a speech at the Knesset and I will definitely do that if they want me to," Trump told Axios' Barak Ravid on X.
"It is a great day for Israel and for the world. My call with Bibi was great. He is so happy. He should be. It is a great achievement. The whole world has come together to reach this deal, including countries that were enemies," Trump added.
Trump said he is "very confident" a wider Middle East peace deal will be struck after the Gaza war ends, saying Iran will likely be part of the broader agreement and noting it seems like "everything's at a different scale" now.
"We're going to have peace. And by the way, I believe Iran is going to be, actually, a part of the whole peace situation," Trump said.
"But countries that, frankly, didn't get along, they're all involved, and it's brought the whole world together. It's amazing," he noted, adding, "Things are going to be much different in the Middle East, but things are going to be different all over the world."
Trump said he has been engaged in "some very good conversations" with Iran over an unspecified "deal," less than four months after he carried out a series of strikes targeting Tehran's nuclear program in June.
He said Iran was "about one month, maybe two months, away from having a nuclear weapon, and if I allowed that to happen, this deal would not have been possible."
Trump said after his Gaza peace deal is enacted, the coastal enclave "is going to be a much safer place, and it's going to be a place that reconstructs, and other countries in the area will help it reconstruct, because they have tremendous amounts of wealth, and they want to see that happen."
"We'll be involved in helping them make it successful and helping it stay peaceful, but I think it's going to be peaceful," Trump said.
The 20-point plan, first announced Sept. 29, includes the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a ceasefire, the disarmament of Hamas and the rebuilding of Gaza.
Around 250 hostages were taken to Gaza following Hamas's cross-border attack Oct. 7, 2023. Tel Aviv estimates nearly 50 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, including around 20 believed to be alive.
More than 11,000 Palestinians are being held in Israeli jails, with 3,544 held without trial, the Israeli human rights group the Center for the Defense of the Individual said.
Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed nearly 67,200 Palestinians in the enclave, most of them women and children. The relentless bombardment has left Gaza largely uninhabitable, leading to widespread starvation and disease.
Trump also told reporters on Wednesday that he might visit Egypt later this week, with the White House confirming that he is considering a regional trip shortly after a planned visit to Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on Friday.
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