Trump Announces Imminent Release of 10 Israeli Hostages from Gaza

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President Donald Trump has announced that ten more Israeli hostages held in Gaza are expected to be released “very shortly” as part of an ongoing ceasefire negotiation between Israel and Hamas. The statement came during a dinner at the White House with Republican senators, where Trump credited his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, for helping broker the progress.

According to Trump, the deal includes the return of ten hostages and the remains of eighteen others, with Israel set to release an undisclosed number of Palestinian prisoners in return. He noted that a larger ceasefire proposal is also on the table, with a potential 60-day pause in hostilities being discussed. Trump expressed optimism, saying, “We got most of the hostages back,” and indicated that the process is nearing completion.

Talks have been facilitated in Doha, Qatar, with the United States playing a key supporting role. A representative from Hamas’s military wing signaled willingness to accept a temporary truce while cautioning that the group may escalate demands if a broader resolution fails to materialize.

Trump also revealed that Mossad Director David Barnea recently visited Washington to seek American support for a controversial plan to relocate Palestinian civilians from Gaza to third countries, including Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Libya. That proposal has sparked international concern, though it remains under internal discussion.

The expected release offers a rare point of progress in a conflict that has seen an extraordinary human toll. The war in Gaza has left more than 58,600 Palestinians dead, according to local health officials, alongside approximately 1,650 Israeli and foreign nationals. That includes the roughly 1,200 victims of the initial Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023.

While the full ceasefire agreement remains in flux, the hostage release could lay the groundwork for a broader humanitarian breakthrough. The effort underscores Trump’s continued involvement in Middle East diplomacy, especially as the 2024 presidential campaign intensifies.

Observers say the situation remains fragile, with both sides under pressure to show movement without making concessions that could spark political backlash at home. Nonetheless, Trump’s announcement injects cautious optimism into a region desperately in need of stability, even if only temporarily.