President Trump said Wednesday that he expects Hamas to release all remaining Israeli
hostages on
Monday, following a
breakthrough peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinian terror group.
“The big thing is hostages are going to be released probably, our time, would be, probably
Monday,” Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity, in an interview hours after he announced both Hamas and Israel had agreed to the
first phase of his 20-point plan for peace in the Middle East.
“They’re in a terrible situation there,” Trump said of the 48 hostages believed to be in Gaza, more than half of which are thought to be dead.
“They’re deep in the earth, and they’re being gotten and a lot of things are happening right now as we speak,” the president continued.
“So much is happening to get the hostages freed, and we think they’ll all be coming back on Monday.”
A senior White House official explained that the deal, which is expected to pause fighting in Gaza as well, will head to the Israeli cabinet on Thursday for approval – and then Israeli troops must begin to pullback from some parts of the strip.
“The deal goes to the Israeli cabinet tomorrow. Once they vote yes, Israel has to withdraw to the line which should take under 24 hours,” the senior White House official said.
“Then the 72 hour clock begins, and Hamas will try to go earlier if possible. Our assessment is that hostages will begin getting released on Monday,” the official added.
Trump argued that the June US airstrikes against nuclear facilities in Iran, and his sweeping tariff agenda, were instrumental in the peace agreement.
Trump expects Hamas to release all remaining Israeli hostages on Monday
nypost.com