Israeli hostages to be released starting Monday, says Hamas official

The handover of Gaza hostages will be followed by the release some 2,000 Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons.

Updated on: Oct 12, 2025, 05:37:12 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

According to a top Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, the release of 48 mostly Israeli hostages held in Gaza will begin on Monday morning, reported news agency AFP.

People hold placards with pictures of hostages who taken hostage in the deadly October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas. (REUTERS)

"According to the signed agreement, the prisoner exchange is set to begin on Monday morning as agreed, and there are no new developments on this matter," Hamdan told AFP.

He added that Hamas leadership has not yet been notified about the logistics of the hostage handover by the Hamas militants on the ground.

The handover of Gaza hostages will be followed by the release some 2,000 Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons, as per to the first stage of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.

Hamdan said that which Palestinian prisoners will be released by Israel was still under negotiation as Israel is not ready to release certain people, however, the final list should be ready by Sunday morning.

Hamas's "prisoners office... has said that, so far, the process has not been finalised. Israel is still refusing to release certain names. However, the negotiating delegation is making every effort to secure their release," AFP quoted Hamdan as saying.

Egypt to host Gaza peace summit

Egypt will host the Gaza peace summit on Monday in Sharm el-Sheikh, during which, several world leaders will come together for the signing of the peace agreement in the middle east.

The summit will be chaired by United States President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and will be attended by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, among others.

According to Egyptian presidency, the summit will be attended by leaders of over twenty countries.

While it is still not clear whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will attend the summit or not, Hamas has made it clear that it will not be involved.

(With AFP inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.