Hamas said Sunday it will release 20 Israeli hostages one day ahead of schedule.
The terror group told Israel it has the captives ready for exchange before President Trump arrives in the region Monday, sources familiar with the deal told the Wall Street Journal. Trump brokered the peace agreement between Hamas and Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel stands ready to receive the hostages at any time. “Israel is prepared and ready to immediately receive all of our hostages,” Netanyahu said Sunday.
The handover marks 737 days since Hamas seized the hostages during its Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Hamas will release all 20 captives at once through the Red Cross using six to eight vehicles, Netanyahu’s spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian said. (RELATED: Fmr Democratic Rep Says Biden Couldn’t Have Pulled Off Trump’s Israel-Hamas Peace Deal)
Hamas has told Israel it has 20 living Israeli hostages in hand and is ready to begin releasing them as early as Sunday https://t.co/xGUjjaYUus
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) October 12, 2025
Hamas holds at least 28 bodies of dead hostages in addition to the 20 living captives. The group claimed it doesn’t know where some bodies are located.
Trump plans to land in Israel Monday morning to address the Knesset before traveling to Egypt. He announced his 20-point peace framework Sept. 29. Hamas accepted the plan Wednesday after negotiations with mediators. Israel’s cabinet approved the deal Thursday.
The agreement requires humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza. Egypt’s Red Crescent said 400 trucks carrying 9,000 tons of supplies — including medical equipment, flour, fuel and blankets — stand ready.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel still wants to destroy Hamas’ remaining tunnel network after the hostage release. Israel has destroyed only 30% to 40% of the tunnels, according to the WSJ.
The diplomatic breakthrough ends a war that lasted more than two years.
