Israel has announced that it expects to receive all of its remaining living captives from Gaza early on Monday, marking a significant step in the ongoing ceasefire agreement. According to government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian, who spoke on Sunday, all 20 captives are anticipated to be returned together in the early hours of Monday.
As has been the case in previous prisoner exchanges during the two-year conflict, the captives will first be handed over to the Red Cross. The organization will then transport them to an Israeli military base inside Gaza for initial medical assessments before they are sent to Israel to reunite with their families.
A Hamas source informed Al Jazeera Arabic that the captives have been moved to three different locations within the Gaza enclave ahead of their transfer to Red Cross officials. Once Israel confirms that all its captives are within its territory, the country will proceed to release Palestinian prisoners, as stated by Bedrosian.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel is expected to release approximately 2,000 Palestinians currently detained, many without formal charges. This includes 250 individuals serving life sentences. Notably, prominent Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, who has long been a focal point of calls for his release, will not be among those freed. Some detainees will be released in the occupied West Bank, where relatives have been instructed not to hold celebrations or speak to the media.
In addition, Israel is preparing to receive the bodies of 28 captives confirmed to have died while in captivity, according to Bedrosian.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation in a televised speech on Sunday evening, expressing hope that the captives’ return would bring a moment of national unity, despite criticism of his leadership during the war. “This is an emotional evening … because tomorrow our children will return to our borders,” he said, quoting a Biblical verse. “Tomorrow is the beginning of a new path – a path of rebuilding, a path of healing and, I hope, a path of united hearts.”
Some families of captives have expressed frustration with Netanyahu, accusing him of prioritizing military objectives over their loved ones’ safe return. During a rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday, US envoy Steve Witkoff praised Netanyahu’s leadership, but the crowd responded with boos.
The prisoner exchange follows the approval of the first phase of a deal aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza. It also coincides with the arrival of US President Donald Trump in Israel, who is set to attend a summit in Egypt. Trump described the situation as “a very special time” and claimed that “everybody’s cheering” as he prepared to leave for Israel.
Al Jazeera correspondent Nour Odeh noted that the event is being seen as “Trump’s show,” given the network’s restrictions in Israel. Trump is scheduled to meet with captive families, address the Knesset, and travel to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where he has invited leaders from more than 20 countries.
As part of the Trump-led agreement, Israeli forces have withdrawn from certain areas of Gaza, including Gaza City and other northern regions. However, they still maintain control over more than half of the territory.
Palestinians returning to areas they were displaced from have found extensive destruction, with entire neighborhoods reduced to “wastelands,” according to Al Jazeera reporter Ibrahim al-Khalili. Humanitarian aid has started to arrive in Gaza, with dozens of trucks entering the region on Sunday. However, distribution remains slow for a population that has endured months of severe hardship.
Al Jazeera correspondent Hind Khoudary reported from Deir el-Balah that residents are in urgent need of food, tents, mobile shelters, solar panels, and medical supplies—items largely unavailable for the past two years. Many people have lost their savings and rely entirely on humanitarian assistance to survive.
The Gaza summit, scheduled for Monday in Sharm el-Sheikh, will be co-chaired by Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Over a dozen world leaders, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, are expected to attend. Iran has been invited but has not yet confirmed whether it will send a representative.
While both Israel and Hamas have stated they will not participate, Egypt has called the summit a “historic” event aimed at ending the war in Gaza and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. A document ending the war in Gaza is also expected to be signed at the summit.
Despite progress in the ceasefire, details of the second phase of the agreement remain under negotiation. These include the structure of a post-war administration in Gaza and the future of Hamas. The second phase is expected to involve a phased Israeli withdrawal, disarmament of Hamas, establishment of new security and governance systems, and reconstruction efforts.
Adnan Hayajneh, a professor of international relations at the University of Qatar, told Al Jazeera that the situation in Gaza is akin to an “earthquake.” He emphasized the lack of government, schools, and basic infrastructure in the region.
US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged the challenges ahead in achieving stability, stating that consistent pressure from the US president and his team will be necessary. In a separate interview, Vance clarified that the 200 US troops deployed to monitor the ceasefire are not intended for combat roles and will not be stationed in Palestinian territory. “The idea that we’re going to have troops on the ground in Gaza or in Israel is not our intention or our plan,” he said.
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