A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas held for the third day in Gaza on Sunday, ahead of the expected release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners and a speech by US President Donald Trump to the Israeli parliament.
Thousands of Palestinians continued to head north toward Gaza City, the focus of Israeli attacks over the past two months, in hopes that the ceasefire would end the war.
“There is a lot of joy among the people,” Abdou Abu Seada said, adding that this joy was tempered by exhaustion after two years of war that destroyed much of Gaza.
Read more: Hamas warns of difficult negotiations ahead
Israeli hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch, in a letter to the captives’ relatives seen by Reuters, said the hostages were expected to begin being released on Monday.
Hamas prepares to release its hostages from Monday noon
Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas must release the remaining hostages at midday on Monday, captured on October 7, 2023, when the group’s militants launched the surprise attack on Israel that sparked the war.
Hirsch said Thursday that a task force would be formed to help find the remains of any dead hostages that Hamas could not locate. We know that twenty of the 48 hostages are alive.
Trump is due to arrive in Israel on Monday to address the Knesset, the parliament, before traveling to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt for a summit of world leaders on ending the war in Gaza.
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner spoke Saturday in Tel Aviv at a rally that many Israelis hoped would be the final call for the release of the hostages and an end to the war.
The United States, alongside Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, mediated what was described as a first-phase deal between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire and the release of hostages by Hamas and prisoners and detainees by Israel.
“For two years we have been waiting for this day, this moment… We are all happy for the family, for the hostages, to know that finally… we will see them,” said protester Dalia Yosef, thanking Trump.
Read also: Gazans return home as Israel-Hamas ceasefire holds
Israel to destroy underground tunnels built by Hamas
The Israeli Prison Service said it had transferred some Palestinian prisoners to other facilities ahead of their planned release. Israel’s Justice Ministry has released the names of 250 Palestinians convicted of murder and other serious crimes, who are to be released as part of the deal.
They both sacrificed so much for this country and dedicated their lives to serving Israel.
The list does not include senior Hamas commanders whom the Islamist militant group sought to free, nor prominent figures from other factions, Marwan Al Barghouti or Ahmed Saadat.
However, this should not derail the deal.
Israel will also release 1,700 Palestinians detained in Gaza since October 7, 2023 and 22 Palestinian minors, as well as the bodies of 360 activists.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that once the hostages were returned, the army would destroy the underground tunnels built by Hamas in Gaza.
Palestinians returning to northern Gaza described widespread devastation. Rescuers warned there could be unexploded ordnance and bombs in the area.
Amjad Al Shawa, who heads a Palestinian organization that coordinates with humanitarian groups, estimated that 300,000 tents were needed to temporarily shelter 1.5 million displaced Gazans.
“We couldn’t believe the destruction we saw,” Rami Mohammad-Ali, 37, said by telephone after walking 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) with his son from Deir Al Balah to Gaza City.
“We are happy to return to Gaza (city) but at the same time we have bitter feelings about the destruction,” he said, describing seeing human remains scattered along the roads.
