The last Hamas hostages are expected to be released from Gaza in the coming hours - they will be transported across the border to Israel and taken to the Re'im military base.
Israel expects that all living hostages will be handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross early Monday morning, Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosyan said on Sunday.
She reported that after their release, the hostages will be transported across the border to Israel and taken to the Re'im military base.
Coffins containing the remains of the deceased hostages will be adorned with Israeli flags before being sent to a forensic laboratory for identification.
In a statement made on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his country is "ready to immediately receive all hostages."
Hamas Begins Preparations for Hostage Release
According to Israeli media reports, Hamas has begun transporting hostages to collection points in anticipation of their release.
Earlier, there was information that the release could take place as early as Sunday, after U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance stated on NBC's "Meet the Press": "This really could happen at any moment."
Vance added that American military officials do not plan to deploy their troops in either Israel or Gaza.
His statement about the release of hostages coincides with reports from American media that Hamas has informed intermediaries that it is ready to release about 20 living hostages and will not wait for the previously agreed date.
The release was scheduled for Monday and was supposed to coincide with U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to Israel and then to Egypt for a summit of world leaders and guarantors of the peace agreement regarding Gaza.
U.S. President Donald Trump will participate in a summit of world leaders in Egypt dedicated to ending the war in Gaza.
Trump may visit a hospital on Monday.
According to Israeli media, during his visit, the American president, circumstances permitting, will make a short stop at one of the hospitals to visit the released captives.
Trump's brief trip to Israel on Monday will include a meeting at the airport with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, a speech at the Knesset, and a meeting with the families of the hostages.
The ceasefire, brokered by Trump and key Arab negotiators, began on Friday and marked a crucial step toward ending a two-year bloody war that was triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, when about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were abducted.
