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President Trump said Wednesday he expects Hamas to release all remaining Israeli hostages on Monday — as families celebrated the breakthrough peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinian terror group.

“The big thing is hostages are going to be released probably, our time, would be, probably Monday,” Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity, in an interview hours after he announced that both Hamas and Israel had agreed to the first phase of his 20-point plan for peace in the Middle East.

“They’re in a terrible situation there,” Trump said of the 48 hostages believed to be in Gaza, more than half of whom are thought to be dead.


  Trump revealed that he expects the remaining hostages to be returned to Israel Monday — two years after they were kidnapped. Francis Chung/UPI/Shutterstock Trump revealed that he expects the remaining hostages to be returned to Israel Monday — two years after they were kidnapped. Francis Chung/UPI/Shutterstock

  Trump was praised during a phone call with hostage families. Liri Agami and Alon Kaplun Trump was praised during a phone call with hostage families. Liri Agami and Alon Kaplun

“They’re deep in the earth, and they’re being gotten and a lot of things are happening right now as we speak,” the president continued.

“So much is happening to get the hostages freed, and we think they’ll all be coming back on Monday.”

A senior White House official explained that the deal, which is expected to pause fighting in Gaza as well, will head to the Israeli cabinet on Thursday for approval — and then Israeli troops must begin to pull back from some parts of the Strip. 

“The deal goes to the Israeli cabinet tomorrow. Once they vote yes, Israel has to withdraw to the line which should take under 24 hours,” the senior White House official said. 


  Palestinian children celebrate the news on October 9, 2025. AFP via Getty Images Palestinian children celebrate the news on October 9, 2025. AFP via Getty Images

“Then the 72-hour clock begins, and Hamas will try to go earlier if possible. Our assessment is that hostages will begin getting released on Monday,” the official added. 


  Trump tells families of Israeli hostages “They’re all coming home Monday.” @NeriaKraus/X Trump tells families of Israeli hostages “They’re all coming home Monday.” @NeriaKraus/X

  Family members of hostages celebrated the peace deal as they vowed they would “not stop fighting until we see the last of the 48 return to their family.” Truth Social / @realDonaldTrump Family members of hostages celebrated the peace deal as they vowed they would “not stop fighting until we see the last of the 48 return to their family.” Truth Social / @realDonaldTrump

Shortly after announcing the peace deal, Trump called the family members of the hostages who were with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and said that “they’re all coming back on Monday.”

“Mr. President, we believe in you. We know you’ve done so much for us since you became president — even before that,” said Moshe Emilio Lavi, whose brother-in-law Omri Miran was abducted during the invasion on Oct. 7.

Here’s the latest on the Gaza cease-fire deal

“We trust you to fulfill the mission until every hostage, every 48 of the hostages are home. Thank you so much. Blessed be the peacemakers.”

“God bless you, Mr. President. God Bless America,” another family member said in the video shared by the White House.

Trump also shared a video on his Truth Social of families of hostages celebrating the development.

“And today, President Trump has done it. He announced just now that our loved ones, the hostages, are coming home,” a family member said in the video.

“We will not stop fighting until we see the last of the 48 return to their family, those who were murdered in captivity, buried in the Land of Israel, those who are still alive, walking through the border and reuniting with their families.”


  People celebrate after President Trump announced that Israel and Hamas agreed on the first phase of a Gaza peace plan, at the “Hostages Square” in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 9, 2025. REUTERS People celebrate after President Trump announced that Israel and Hamas agreed on the first phase of a Gaza peace plan, at the “Hostages Square” in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 9, 2025. REUTERS

The family members were standing in front of a banner bearing the faces of the remaining hostages, and noting that their loved ones have spent the last “two years in captivity.”  

“Thank you, President Trump, for your courage,” a man in front of the banner said. “Thank you to the Trump administration for doing everything you can to bring them home.”

Trump described it as a “great honor to be involved” in what he views as “probably the biggest deal ever made.” 


  A person wearing a mask of President Trump waves an Israeli flag featuring a yellow ribbon in the center as crowds celebrate in Tel Aviv’s “Hostages Square” on Oct. 9, 2025, after Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a Gaza peace plan. REUTERS A person wearing a mask of President Trump waves an Israeli flag featuring a yellow ribbon in the center as crowds celebrate in Tel Aviv’s “Hostages Square” on Oct. 9, 2025, after Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a Gaza peace plan. REUTERS

  Einav Zanzauker, mother of hostage Matan Zanzauker, reacts to the hostage deal declared by President Trump at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on October 9, 2025 AFP via Getty Images Einav Zanzauker, mother of hostage Matan Zanzauker, reacts to the hostage deal declared by President Trump at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on October 9, 2025 AFP via Getty Images

The president revealed in his interview with Hannity that he spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the deal was announced.   

“He said, ‘I can’t believe it.’ He said, ‘Everybody’s liking me now,’ meaning him,” Trump said of his conversation with Netanyahu.

“I said, ‘Israel cannot fight the world, Bibi, they can’t fight the world.’ And he understands that very well,” the president added. 


  A woman reacts, carrying a US flag, as people celebrate after President Trump announced that Israel and Hamas agreed on the first phase of a Gaza peace plan. REUTERS A woman reacts, carrying a US flag, as people celebrate after President Trump announced that Israel and Hamas agreed on the first phase of a Gaza peace plan. REUTERS

  More than 1,000 chairs with photographs of Israeli hostages are installed to remember the victims of the Hamas attack in an installation organized by the Jewish Student Union Germany. AFP via Getty Images More than 1,000 chairs with photographs of Israeli hostages are installed to remember the victims of the Hamas attack in an installation organized by the Jewish Student Union Germany. AFP via Getty Images

Trump argued that the June US airstrikes against nuclear facilities in Iran, and his sweeping tariff agenda, were instrumental in the peace agreement. 

“Iran was one month, maybe two months, away from obtaining a nuclear weapon … If I allowed that to happen, this deal would not have been possible,” Trump said. 

“Or if it was, it would have a tremendous cloud over it,” he added, claiming that Iran has “blessed the deal.”


  Israelis celebrate as they react to the news of the Gaza peace deal at Hostages Square on October 9, 2025, in Tel Aviv. Getty Images Israelis celebrate as they react to the news of the Gaza peace deal at Hostages Square on October 9, 2025, in Tel Aviv. Getty Images

As for the future of the Gaza Strip, Trump predicted it would become a “much safer place” and signaled the US would be involved in keeping the peace. 

“It’s going to be a place that reconstructs, and other countries in the area will help it reconstruct, because they have tremendous amounts of wealth, and they want to see that happen,” the president said,  “and we’ll be involved in helping them make it successful and helping it stay peaceful.”

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