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3h ago

Ceasefire Holds as U.S. Envoys Verify Deal With Hostage Releases Set for Monday

Hamas says the hostage handover will start Monday morning under the U.S.-brokered deal.

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Crowds at Hostages Square on Saturday chanted "Trump" and held signs commending the American president's efforts to end the war.

Overview

  • U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper visited Gaza to verify Phase I compliance, with about 200 U.S. personnel in Israel to help monitor and coordinate aid without deploying inside Gaza.
  • An estimated 400,000 people filled Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, chanting thanks to President Trump as Witkoff, Kushner, and Ivanka Trump spoke, while boos greeted mentions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
  • Phase I calls for returning 48 hostages — roughly 20 believed alive — including remains, by Monday noon in exchange for 250 prisoners and 1,700 Gazan detainees, though Netanyahu cautioned not all bodies may be located.
  • Trump is scheduled to meet hostage families and address the Knesset on Monday before heading to a Sharm el-Sheikh summit with more than 20 leaders to advance the plan’s next steps.
  • The pause has allowed large numbers of Gazans to return to devastated neighborhoods as the UN and aid groups prepare to move roughly 170,000 tonnes of supplies and reopen expanded food distribution sites.