Israel-Hamas Peace Deal: When Will The Release Of Hostages Begin?

The agreement includes important measures such as a permanent ceasefire, the exchange of hostages and prisoners, as well as the reconstruction of Gaza and the restoration of humanitarian aid.
US President Donald Trump officially announced the agreement in a message on the social networking website, saying, “This is the first major step towards a long and lasting peace. According to the agreement, the release of hostages will begin soon and all parties will be treated fairly.”
President Trump described this development as the “foundation for regional peace” and said that this agreement is a historic opportunity not only between Israel and Palestine but also for the stability of the entire Middle East. On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also thanked the US President and called the agreement a political, moral and national success for his government. According to him, this agreement is a major step towards “the security of the citizens of Israel and the return of the hostages.”
When will the hostages be released?
According to American media, the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners is likely to begin on Saturday or Sunday. However, later, a recent statement by US President Donald Trump said that “the release of the hostages will likely begin on Monday.”
President Trump added that “this process will be carried out in stages and with complete transparency so that both sides can move forward with confidence.”
Hamas’s position
On the other hand, Hamas has made it clear in its response that “merely signing the agreement is not enough, but only its full and timely implementation can guarantee peace.” The organization has called on all guarantor powers, including the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, to oblige Israel to comply with all the provisions of the agreement so that there is no room for any delay or breach of promise. According to a Hamas spokesman, “We stand by our promises, but we will never back down from the freedom, sovereignty and right of our people.”
UN response
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the Gaza peace agreement, calling it a “ray of hope.” He declared and called on all parties to ensure the immediate and effective implementation of all provisions of the **Agreement. He said that “the prisoner exchange process should be completed with dignity and respect and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza should begin immediately.”
Background
It should be noted that this agreement was reached in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh under the joint auspices of the United States, Qatar, Turkey and Egypt, under which a comprehensive roadmap consisting of three phases has been set out —
1. Phase One:
Ceasefire, release of hostages and prisoners, and resumption of aid activities.
2. Phase Two:
Political negotiations and consensus on the administrative and security affairs of Gaza.
3. Phase Three:
Reconstruction and the formation of a permanent peace agreement