Hamas is expected to release Israeli hostages in two stages beginning at 8 AM Monday, as Israel confirms preparations for the first exchanges under the Gaza ceasefire brokered by the U.S.
Israel said on Sunday that hostages held in Gaza are expected to be freed early Monday as part of the first phase of a ceasefire deal reached between Israel and Hamas under a plan announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Israel Hayom, Hamas will release the Israeli hostages in two batches, with the first group expected to be freed starting at 8 AM local time. “Israel is ready to receive hostages if they are released earlier,” said Shosh Bedrosian, a spokeswoman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
Bedrosian added that Israel will free Palestinian detainees once the hostages are safely returned from Gaza. Under the current arrangement, 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences and 1,700 detained since October 2023, will be released in exchange for 48 Israeli hostages, including 20 alive.
The truce marks the implementation of the first phase of a 20-point plan unveiled by President Trump on 29 September. The proposal seeks to secure a full ceasefire in Gaza, ensure the release of all Israeli captives, and oversee a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave. The first phase took effect on Friday.
A second phase of the plan calls for the formation of a new governing mechanism in Gaza without Hamas participation, the deployment of a multinational force, and the disarmament of the group.
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Türkiye is prepared to contribute troops to a proposed international stabilisation force for Gaza, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday.
Italy said a fond farewell to the Winter Olympics on Sunday with an open-air ceremony in the ancient Verona Arena that celebrated art and sporting achievement at a Games lauded as a model for how to stage such events.
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Mexican authorities said on Sunday that Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho and head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed during a military operation in the western state of Jalisco.
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The United Nations mission in Afghanistan said on Monday it had received “credible reports” that at least 13 civilians were killed and seven others injured in overnight Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan.
Four members of Syria’s Internal Security Forces were killed and two others injured on Monday (23 February) in an attack by the ISIS (Daesh) terrorist group targeting a checkpoint west of Raqqa in northeastern Syria, the Interior Ministry said.
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