Hamas Expected to Release Remaining Hostages Within 72 Hours of Ceasefire Approval.

Hamas Expected to Release Remaining Hostages Within 72 Hours of Ceasefire Approval

According to a senior official who spoke with Axios, Hamas is expected to release the remaining hostages first those still alive, followed by the deceased within 72 hours after Israel’s Political and Security Cabinet approves the ceasefire agreement reached in Egypt.

The reported plan marks a potential breakthrough in ongoing negotiations to end hostilities between Israel and Hamas, with hopes high that the release could begin as early as Saturday and be completed no later than Monday.

Sources familiar with the talks said the framework was finalized during high-level discussions in Cairo, where mediators worked to secure both the truce and the safe handover of hostages.

The staged release process would reportedly begin once Israel’s Cabinet formally ratifies the Egyptian-brokered agreement, a move that could come within the next day.

The official noted that while the timeline remains contingent on political approval in Jerusalem, preparations are already underway among international and regional mediators to facilitate the transfer and ensure the hostages’ safe return. The final details, including verification protocols and the involvement of third-party observers, are still being defined.

If carried out as anticipated, the agreement would represent one of the most significant de-escalation steps since the outbreak of the latest round of fighting, providing a crucial humanitarian and diplomatic milestone in the region’s efforts to restore calm.