Israel awaits release of last hostages by Hamas before Monday deadline elapses

Israel is expecting all living hostages to be released by Hamas to the Red Cross early Monday morning, Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said on Sunday.

Bedrosian told reporters in Tel Aviv that following their release, the hostages will then be transferred across the border into Israel and taken to Re'im military base.

Israeli flags will be used to drape the coffins containing the dead hostages' remains before they are taken to a forensic facility for identification.

In a statement on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his nation is "prepared and ready for the immediate reception of all our hostages.

"His office shared Netanyahu's comments on X following his meeting with Gal Hirsch, the Coordinator for the Prisoners and Missing.

Hamas begins preparations for the hostages' release

According to Israeli media reports, Hamas have begun to move the hostages to Assembly Points ahead of their release.

Earlier, news had emerged that the release could be done by Hamas on Sunday after US Vice President JD Vance told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that, "It really should be any moment now".

Vance added that there are no plans for the US military to deploy in either Israel or Gaza.

His announcement on the release of hostages echoed reports in US media that Hamas has informed mediators it is ready to release around 20 living hostages, rather than wait until the previously agreed-upon date, as seen in the Wall Street Journal.

The release had been planned for Monday and was expected to coincide with the visit of US President Donald Trump to Israel and later Egypt for a summit of world leaders and guarantors of the Gaza peace deal.

Trump may visit the hospital on Monday

Meanwhile, there are contingency plans for Trump to add a quick visit to one of the hospitals receiving freed hostages tomorrow.

According to information obtained by The Times of Israel, Trump has plans to include a brief stop at one of the hospitals receiving the released captives tomorrow, if circumstances allow.

Trump's short Monday visit to Israel will include a welcome at the airport by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, a speech in the Knesset, Israel's parliament and a meeting with hostages' families.

The latest ceasefire brokered by Trump and key Arab negotiators began on Friday, and marks a key step toward ending the two-year bloody war that was triggered by Hamas’ 7 October 2023, attack on Israel, when some 1,200 people were killed and 251 kidnapped.