In Israel, preparations are underway to receive the hostages who will be released by Hamas on Monday morning. It will be a bittersweet day for many families, however, as only 20 of the 48 hostages are believed to be alive.

In exchange, Israel will release some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Once the hostages are safe, the buses carrying the Palestinian prisoners will be allowed to travel to Gaza. However, Hamas is insisting that Israel also release seven key Palestinian leaders, including the popular Marwan Barghouti, who has been held in Israel for 23 years. The names of Ahmad Saadat, Ibrahim Hamed, and Abbas Al-Sayyed have also been mentioned. Netanyahu's cabinet has already stated that Barghouti's release is not on the agenda. He received a life sentence for his involvement in terrorist acts.

Booing

Yesterday, US envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff gave a short speech in the square where weekly protests for the release of the hostages take place. He received warm applause from the hundreds of thousands in attendance, as did Ivanka Trump (the president's daughter) and her husband, Jared Kushner. Witkoff told the protesters that"miracles really can happen" and that "the hostages are coming home." When he mentioned Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in his speech, there were loud boos. Trump's name, however, was met with applause.

Meanwhile, US President Trump, as the architect of the Gaza peace plan, is traveling to Israel to meet with the released hostages and their families on Monday. He will also meet with Netanyahu and then address the Israeli parliament.

The peace plan stipulates that Hamas must completely disarm. It appears Hamas has no intention of doing so (yet). A Hamas official told the BBC:"We cannot abandon Gaza to thieves and militias supported by Israel. Our weapons are legitimate and will remain as long as the occupation continues."

According to the 20-point plan "for perpetual peace," a temporary government of technocrats will initially lead Gaza, comprising Palestinian, Arab, and international representatives. This Palestinian technocratic government would assume day-to-day governance within Gaza. According to the Trump plan, it would be subject to the international Peace Board, which would constitute the highest authority from abroad. Trump wants to chair this Peace Board himself.

Summit conference

On Monday, President Trump and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will hold a summit to further develop the peace agreement. Leaders from more than 20 countries have been invited. The European Union will be represented by European Council President Antonio Costa, and German and French Presidents Friedrich Merz and Emmanuel Macron, as well as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will also be in attendance. According to Egyptian news outlet Al-Qahera News, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Jordanian King Abdullah II, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif are also expected to attend.

Israel has not been invited to these talks. Hamas has also announced its absence, and the Palestinian Authority will also not be present, according to Israeli media. The Qatari and Egyptian mediators will sign a peace document on Hamas's behalf.

Currently, long columns of trucks carrying aid (long blocked by Israel) are ready to enter Gaza. They are being allowed in, albeit slowly.