Hamas tells Israel it may start releasing 20 live hostages it holds today; rejects disarmament and post-war Gaza governance

Hamas has informed Israel via Arab mediators that it holds 20 live hostages and is ready to begin releasing them as early as today, according to the Wall Street Journal, which cites sources familiar with the negotiations.

The update, as noted by the American newspaper, constitutes the first official confirmation from Hamas regarding the number of Israeli captives who remain alive and suggests a potential acceleration of the timeline for their release.

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that “Israel is prepared and ready for the immediate reception of all our hostages.”

According to the WSJ, the Israeli military is already on standby to receive the hostages, even as early as Sunday night, although a handover on Monday is considered more likely, when US President Donald Trump is expected to visit Israel and Egypt.

Hamas also informed the mediators and Israel that it does not know the location of some of the dead hostages and that it will struggle to meet the 72-hour deadline provided by the Trump plan for their handover. Israeli intelligence services appear to share the assessment that more time will be needed to locate the bodies.

In parallel, a multinational working group is being created with the participation of Turkey, the US, Qatar, and Egypt, which will undertake the location of the dead Israeli hostages whose position remains unknown.

The list of 20 people believed to be alive includes soldiers, civilians, and participants in the Nova festival, from which dozens of people were abducted on October 7, 2023. Among them are Matan Angrest, Gali and Ziv Berman, Avinatan Or, and Matan Zangaoker, whose families continue to publicly campaign for their return.

Hamas will not govern Gaza after the war, according to an organisation source
A Hamas source, close to the group’s negotiation committee, told Agence France-Presse on Sunday that Hamas will not participate in the post-war governance of Gaza, as world leaders prepare to travel to Egypt for a Gaza peace summit.

The source’s comments come a few days after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire came into effect, and as the two sides discuss the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for ending the war, which calls for the disarmament of Hamas and the group’s non-participation in the governance of post-war Gaza.

“For Hamas, the governance of the Gaza Strip is a closed issue. Hamas will not participate in the transitional phase at all, meaning it has relinquished control of the Strip, but remains a fundamental part of the Palestinian fabric,” the source told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive issues.

In contrast to other more powerful militant organisations in the region, Hamas’s leadership has previously been divided on key issues, including the future administration of Gaza.

But where there appears to be no division among the organisation’s top members is on the issue of disarmament, which the group has long described as a red line.

“Hamas agrees to a long-term ceasefire and that its weapons will not be used at all during this period, except in the event of an Israeli attack on Gaza,” the source said.

Another Hamas official, who asked not to be named to discuss sensitive issues, had previously told AFP that the disarmament of Hamas was “out of the question.”

The first clause of Trump’s 20-point plan stipulates that Gaza will become a “de-radicalised, terrorism-free zone that poses no threat to its neighbours.”

The plan also states that Hamas will have no role in the future governance of the Strip and that its military infrastructure and weapons should be “destroyed and not reconstituted.”

According to the Trump plan, an interim technocratic and non-political Palestinian committee will take over the daily operation of public services.

The source close to the negotiators stated that they asked the mediator Egypt to convene a meeting before the end of next week to agree on the composition of this committee, adding that “the names are almost ready.”

“Hamas, along with the other factions, has submitted 40 names. There is absolutely no right of veto over them and none of them belong to Hamas,” he added.

Israel will destroy remaining Hamas tunnels after hostage release
Israel plans to destroy all remaining Hamas tunnels in the Gaza Strip after the completion of the hostage release process, the country’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, said, despite the agreed ceasefire with the Palestinian organisation.

“The great challenge for Israel after the phase of the return of the hostages will be the destruction of all Hamas terror tunnels in Gaza,” Katz said in a post on the X platform (Twitter).

The Israeli minister noted that the operation will be carried out by the army, but also “through the international mechanism that will be established under US leadership and supervision.” He added that he has already instructed the troops “to prepare for the execution of the mission,” emphasising that Israel’s goal remains the demilitarisation of Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas.

According to reports in Israeli media, even after the initial withdrawal of troops, Israeli forces are expected to maintain control over more than 50% of the Gaza Strip.

During the two-year war, the Israeli army had repeatedly announced the destruction of dozens of Hamas tunnels, although the extent of the underground network remains unclear. Prior to the invasion, officials estimated that the tunnels stretched for hundreds of kilometres, even under densely populated areas.

Reuters: Hamas to release the 20 live Israeli hostages at any moment
According to Reuters, Hamas will release the 20 live hostages from Gaza “at any moment.”

Although information from official sources is not yet clear, Reuters cites US officials saying that the hostage release is “imminent.”

The Hamas – Israel “bargain” for the release of hostages
Meanwhile, a peculiar bargain over the timing of the release of the Israeli hostages still alive in Hamas’s hands appears to be unfolding in recent hours, according to reports in the Wall Street Journal and the BBC.

According to the information being conveyed, Hamas appears to have communicated to Israel that it can release some of the living Israeli hostages as early as today, requesting in exchange that some of the seven “high-profile” Palestinian prisoners—among them Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat—be released.

The sources cited by the British media explain that the formula for the release of prisoners stipulates that those with the longest sentences will be among them, which applies to the seven for whom Hamas is pushing.

As the BBC reports, although Israel has stated from the outset that these seven prisoners will not be released, Hamas appears content with the release of even two of them.

Vance: Hostages could be released at any moment
Anxiety is intensifying among the families of the Israeli hostages regarding their release by Hamas. The information circulating in recent hours is confused, and in this context, the US Vice President, in an interview he gave, stressed that this could happen at any time.

“The hostages could be released from Gaza at any moment,” Vance said, speaking to NBC News.

He also added that “the United States does not intend to deploy military forces in the Gaza Strip or Israel.”

Meanwhile, earlier, the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his country is “ready and prepared for the immediate reception of all our hostages.”

Early Monday morning release of all live hostages, says Israeli government
Release of all live hostages from 4 to 6 a.m. – Handover of the bodies of the 28 dead to follow – Red Cross to be informed two hours before the process begins

Israel provided an answer to the mystery surrounding the time of the release of the hostages held by Hamas.

Specifically, a representative of the country’s government stated that all live hostages are expected to be released in the early hours of Monday (from 4 to 6 a.m.), though a slight change in times is not ruled out.

Later, Hamas will hand over the bodies of the 28 dead hostages.

The Red Cross will be informed two hours before the hostage release begins.