Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal: Who is going to be released and what to expect
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Hostages and Palestinian prisoners are expected to start being released from 4pm local time Sunday. A ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas is expected to come into effect at 8:30am local time on Sunday, seeing the release dozens of hostages held in Gaza and hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
![[The ceasefire has come after 15 months of war since October 7]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/17/22/Israel_Hostages_Preparations_56345.jpg)
The long fought-for deal, divided into three phases of 42 days each, was approved by the Israeli cabinet with a majority of 24 ministers in favour and eight against in the early hours of Saturday morning. Many hope it will bring an end to the devastating 15-month conflict, which has claimed the lives of over 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza and more than 1,000 in Israel.
![[Hundreds of prisoners will be released as part of the deal]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/08/12/14/Israel_Palestinians_Inside_Prison_95282.jpg)
However, sources close to the negotiations, along with families of hostages whose loved ones are not on the initial release list, have expressed concerns that while the initial stage may succeed, the second and third phases are not guaranteed. Far-right members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition consider it only a temporary ceasefire and have threatened to bring down his government if he makes too many concessions.
![[Gaza has been in the grip of a humanitarian crisis for months, aid agencies say]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/18/08/Israel_Palestinians_Gaza_46702.jpg)
What should we expect in the coming days?. According to the plan, while the ceasefire will begin at 8.30am Sunday, the actual exchange will start at 4pm the same day, with hostages being released and then Palestinian prisoners. In the first phase, 33 hostages taken from Israel—the youngest, women including five Israeli soldiers, the elderly, and the sick—are expected to be released. Hamas has agreed to free three female hostages on Day 1 of the deal, four on Day 7, and the remaining 26 over the following five weeks.
