Vice President JD Vance on Sunday mentioned that the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza might be released “any moment now,” ahead of a Monday deadline, as part of the initial phase of a peace plan between Israel and Hamas.
“It really should be any moment now,” the vice president told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” when asked about the timing for the release of the hostages.
“The president of the United States is planning to travel to the Middle East to welcome the hostages Monday morning, Middle Eastern Time,” Vance added. “This should be late Sunday night or very early Monday morning here in the United States.”
The vice president emphasized, “you can’t specify the exact moment they will be released, but we fully expect — that’s the reason the president is going — that he will be meeting the hostages early next week.”
Trump is anticipated to journey to the Middle East later Sunday for a brief visit to Israel and Egypt to supervise the onset of the first phase of a peace agreement the Trump administration facilitated between Israel and Hamas.
Following the commencement of a ceasefire on Friday as part of the first stage of the peace agreement, Israel started preparing for the release of the hostages within the following 72 hours, a deadline that concludes at noon local time on Monday, or 5 a.m. ET.
There are 48 hostages remaining in Gaza, of which Israel believes 20 are alive.
In a conversation with Sky News on Sunday, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, Sharren Haskel, also anticipated the release of Israeli hostages earlier than expected.
“I think [Hamas] might start even releasing them tonight. So, earlier than expected,” Haskel said, adding later that, “We really hope to see them as quickly as possible.”
