After 737 days of fear, waiting, and endless vigils in Tel Aviv&rsquo;s Hostage Square, Israel is bracing for a morning that could mark the end of one of its darkest chapters. The final 20 Israeli hostages held in Gaza are set to be released today under the historic 20-point Gaza Peace Deal, signed last week in Cairo and brokered by US President Donald Trump.
The agreement has been sealed after months of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, paved the way for a fragile ceasefire, an Israeli withdrawal to the pre-agreed &ldquo;yellow line&rdquo; inside Gaza, and the release of around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages.
&ldquo;This war in Gaza is over,&rdquo; President Trump declared aboard Air Force One en route to Tel Aviv on Monday morning. He&rsquo;s expected to meet the families of the captives and address Israel&rsquo;s parliament, the Knesset, later today.
According to the plan, Hamas will release the hostages in three batches from three different parts of Gaza, Gaza City, central Gaza, and Khan Yunis in the south, between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. local time i.e. 10:30&ndash;11:30 a.m. IST.
Once handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the captives will be transferred to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and taken to the Reim military base, where emotional reunions with their families are expected. Those stable enough will then be moved to Shiba, Ichalov, and Beilinson hospitals, while anyone needing urgent care will be airlifted to Soroka or Barzilai Medical Centers.
In the afternoon, Israel will also receive the bodies of deceased hostages as part of the exchange, a moment that will be marked by both grief and closure across the nation.
For many Israelis, the day carries a heavy mix of relief and remembrance. The country prepares to welcome its own home, some alive, some not in what could become the final act of a war that redefined the Middle East.

20 hostages to be released from Gaza under Trump peace deal, ending 737-day captivity

Hamas to Free Israeli Hostages Today

20 hostages to be released from Gaza under Trump peace deal, ending 737-day captivity

October 13, 2025 | 16:01 IST