Hamas says it will hand over Israeli hostages ahead of Trump’s Egypt visit

GAZA/TEL AVIV — Hamas told mediators it will begin handing over living Israeli hostages on Monday morning, a move timed to precede a summit in Egypt hosted by former U.S. President Donald Trump and other world leaders aimed at consolidating a ceasefire and a broader peace arrangement.

According to international and Israeli officials, Hamas has started moving the captives to assembly points inside Gaza and will transfer the living hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which will then hand them to Israeli authorities. Israeli spokespeople said the handover is expected to take place in the early hours of Monday.

Jerusalem said it is prepared to receive the hostages immediately when they arrive. A government spokeswoman said Israel expects all 20 living hostages to be released together and transported to the Red Cross in a coordinated operation, after which Israeli medical teams will take custody.

The planned releases follow intensive international mediation — led by the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey — and form part of a ceasefire framework that envisions reciprocal steps, including the phased release of Palestinian prisoners and a large-scale humanitarian surge into Gaza. Observers cautioned that logistical and security hurdles remain, including locating the remains of deceased captives and ensuring safe passage.

The handover comes as Mr. Trump prepares to co-host a multinational summit in Sharm el-Sheikh intended to endorse a 20-point plan for a transition in Gaza and an international mechanism for reconstruction and security. World leaders attending the summit will also review measures to scale up aid deliveries and stabilise the ceasefire.

Families of the hostages and officials on both sides have expressed cautious hope but warned that the situation remains fragile. International agencies stressed the importance of strict adherence to agreed procedures — including Red Cross oversight — to ensure the safe, humane and dignified return of captives.