Post by : Rameen Ariff

Vice President JD Vance has stated that the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza could be released “any moment now,” ahead of a Monday deadline. This is expected as part of the first phase of a historic peace plan between Israel and Hamas.

In a Sunday interview, Vice President Vance said, “It really should be any moment now,” when asked about the timing of the hostages’ release. He added that President Trump is planning to travel to the Middle East to greet the hostages on Monday morning, Middle Eastern time. For U.S. audiences, this corresponds to late Sunday night or very early Monday morning.

Vance emphasized that while the exact moment of release cannot be confirmed, there is high expectation that the hostages will be freed soon. “That’s why the president is going — that he will be greeting the hostages early next week,” he said.

President Trump is scheduled to travel to Israel and Egypt on Sunday for a quick visit to oversee the start of the peace deal, which his administration helped negotiate between Israel and Hamas.

Hostage Release Timeline

Following a ceasefire that began Friday as part of the peace deal, Israel has prepared for the release of hostages within the next 72 hours. The deadline for the first phase expires at noon local time on Monday, which is 5 a.m. ET.

Currently, there are 48 hostages remaining in Gaza, of which Israel believes 20 are alive. Israel’s deputy foreign minister, Sharren Haskel, said that the release could happen sooner than expected. “I think [Hamas] might start even releasing them tonight,” she said. “We really hope to see them as quickly as possible.”

Background of the Peace Deal

The Israeli government approved the terms for the first phase of the peace plan on Friday. This comes more than two years after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages. Since then, over 67,000 people have died in Gaza according to local health officials.

The first phase of the plan focuses on:

• The release of all remaining Israeli hostages.

• The release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees held in Israel.

• Ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

While the plan addresses immediate concerns, questions remain about long-term leadership and governance in the Gaza Strip.

U.S. Support for the Peace Process

Two U.S. officials said that the U.S. military is preparing to send 200 troops to Israel to support the stabilization of Gaza and oversee humanitarian aid distribution. However, Vice President Vance clarified that the plan does not involve U.S. ground troops in Israel or Gaza.

“We’re not planning to put boots on the ground,” Vance said. “U.S. Central Command already has personnel in the region. They will monitor the ceasefire and ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need.”

When asked if U.S. troops could ever enter Gaza, Vance repeated, “Trump is not planning to put boots on the ground in Gaza or Israel.”

The upcoming release of hostages and the first phase of the peace deal mark a significant step toward resolving the long-standing conflict between Israel and Hamas, providing hope for stability and humanitarian relief in the region.

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