Hostage Release Update:

Nothing is for certain, definitely not time tables. But here is what is in the plans, for now:

Families of hostages were told to arrive at a designated meeting point at the Re’im base near Gaza at 7:30am, Monday. Hamas is expected to release two waves of hostages at 8am, and a third an hour later. According the agreement, Hamas must finish releasing all living hostages and retrievable bodies by Monday at noon.

Hamas has reportedly divided the hostages into three groups, and placed one each in the north, center, and south of the Gaza Strip.

Hamas will hand the hostages over to the Red Cross, who will then drive them to the IDF, just outside the “yellow zone” of IDF control in Gaza. IDF forces are ready to secure and protect the convoy, and drive the hostages to the Re’im base, where they will be reunited with their families for the first time. At Re’im, the hostages will undergo initial checkups, before being airlifted to a designated hospital.

The IDF soldiers responsible for retrieving the hostages from the Red Cross have been prepared and in position from the earliest moment, and are prepared for any scenario. (Speaking to them, I sense a high level of concern that Hamas may pull a cruel trick.)

False reports are circulating, claiming that the Red Cross met the hostages, and relayed to Israel that many of them are in critical condition. Gal Hirsh, Coordinator for the Hostages, told hostage families that Israel received no such message.

Throughout the day, Hamas will also return the bodies of hostages they murdered. However, Hamas says they are unable to access all of the bodies. The IDF will need to operate to retrieve bodies which have been buried under rubble.

U.S. President Trump is expected to arrive in Israel at 9:20am, for a short four hour visit. While in Jerusalem, Trump will speak at the Knesset, and meet with some former hostages and their families. Afterwards, he will head to a summit in Egypt, where the Arab world is expected to endorse his Gaza plan.

Terrorist Release:

Immediately after the hostages are released, in matching waves, the IDF will release terrorists:
250 who are serving life terms for murderous terror attacks,
1,722 with ties to Hamas who were arrested in Gaza after October 7th,
360 remains of terrorists.

Of the 250 life-term terrorists being released, 115 will be allowed to return to their homes in Judea and Samaria–including some to East Jerusalem, from where they have free access to all of Israel. The remaining 135 will be deported to Gaza or a third country.

Ahead of their release, the IDF raided the homes of some of the imprisoned terrorists in Shechem (Nablus), Hebron, and surrounding areas. Families were strongly warned against celebrations of any sort surrounding the terrorists’ release.

Unrest in Gaza:

Meanwhile in Gaza, Hamas is trying to retake control, before the second phase of the deal begins negotiations and forces them to disarm. Hamas quickly got to work with three main steps:

1. Setting up a new military force under a different name: “The Gaza Security Forces”
2. PR campaign showing strength and victory, though mostly using old photos and videos
3. Getting rid of any oppositional voices, by publicly executing accused “collaborators,” and fighting against anti-Hamas clans.

Each of these steps can be explained with a book of their own, and we’ll have plenty time to look closer at them after the hostages are released, and discussions for phase two begins. But the most significant right now, is #3. Based off social media posts from inside Gaza, we get a picture of a small war between Hamas, and anti-Hamas clans. An inside source told Tamir Morag of News 14, that despite strong efforts and gross brutality, Hamas is visibly weakened and struggling to defeat the clans.

The main clan which Hamas is fighting is in Gaza City, known as the “Dugmush family.” Hamas claims that the Dugmush clan is backed by Israel, but the clan insists that they would rather die than cooperate with Israel.

Over 60 Gazans were killed in the Hamas-clan wars today, including prominent Hamas commanders and participants of the October 7th attack. Most famous though, is one “journalist” by the name of Saleh Al-Jafarawi (aka, Mr. FAFO), famous for posing as every character under the sun to make Hamas propaganda. Al-Jafarawi raised $13 million dollars “for Gaza,” all of which he pocketed. He was killed on Sunday afternoon by the Dugmush clan, while visiting the ruins of Gaza City.

Orit Perlov, an Israeli analyst and observer of Gaza life, writes that the feeling in much of Gaza is that they are on the brink of a civil war. Many people are afraid, and hiding.