United States President Donald Trump has confirmed that Israeli captives held by Hamas in Gaza are expected to be released on Monday as part of a US-mediated ceasefire agreement.
Speaking to reporters at the White House late Friday, Trump said the deal includes the return of 48 Israeli captives, both 20 alive and 28 deceased, in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners currently held in Israeli detention, reports Al Jazeera.
“Some of those bodies are being recovered right now, as we speak,” Trump said, describing the process as tragic. “It’s a tragedy.”
Trump noted that the remaining living captives are still held in Gaza.
“They’re in some pretty rough places, where only a few people even know their exact locations,” he added.
According to the US president, under the ceasefire terms, Hamas must complete the release of all captives within 72 hours of the truce taking effect.
The Israeli cabinet approved the agreement early Friday, after which the ceasefire officially began. Following the announcement, Israeli forces began repositioning to predetermined locations inside Gaza, initiating the 72-hour countdown for the hostage exchange.
However, reports suggest Hamas may face logistical hurdles in retrieving all the bodies of deceased captives in time, potentially complicating Monday’s handover.
Meanwhile, as Israeli troops began their withdrawal, Palestinian civilians cautiously returned to homes ravaged by weeks of conflict. Despite the relative calm, uncertainty continues to loom over Gaza’s long-term political future and the prospects for a Palestinian state.
President Trump said he would travel to Cairo over the weekend, and is also planning to address Israel’s Knesset before returning to Washington.
Maintaining a hopeful tone, Trump described both Hamas and Israeli officials as being weary of continued warfare.
“They’re all tired of fighting,” he said. “There’s agreement on most of the big things. The smaller issues, like always, will be worked out.”
He also acknowledged that peace talks often look easier on paper than in practice.
“You’ll see, sitting in a nice room in Egypt, it’s easy to agree. But then, making it work on the ground is the real challenge,” he remarked.
Trump welcomed the broader international backing for the ceasefire plan, noting support from the European Union, Iran, and Russia.
“This isn’t just about Gaza,” he said. “It’s peace in the Middle East and that’s a beautiful thing.”
