Israel has announced its expectations for the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza by Hamas, ahead of a Monday deadline under the terms of a peace deal.
A ceasefire agreement requires Hamas to release the 20 living hostages by midday (10am BST) on Monday, who were taken captive on October 7, 2023, during a surprise attack on Israel that sparked a two-year war.
“We are expecting all 20 of our living hostages to be released together at one time to the Red Cross,”
said Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian, adding that they expect the release to occur “early Monday morning”.
The release is part of a broader effort to bring an end to the conflict, with Monday being referred to as a "day of reunification".
Author's summary: Israel awaits hostage release by Hamas.