Two Americans are set to be released this week alongside dozens of Israelis in the first stage of Israel and Hamas’s hostage-ceasefire deal, leaving five Americans still in captivity.
U.S. citizens Sagui Dekel-Chen and Keith Siegel will be among the 33 hostages released as early as Sunday in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including many convicted of killing Israelis, Fox News reported. Israeli officials reached a hostage-ceasefire deal earlier this week with Hamas, mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. The Israeli cabinet approved the deal Friday morning, with the government expected to affirm the decision.
The deal follows months of failed negotiations under the Biden administration. President-elect Donald Trump warned last week that "all hell will break out" if the hostages held in Gaza have not been freed by the time he enters office on Jan. 20.
Around 100 hostages remain captive in Gaza, with at least a third presumed dead, according to Israel’s military. Only three of the seven American hostages are believed to be alive. The third American, 20-year-old Edan Alexander, is set to be released during the second phase of the deal, ABC News reported.
Hospitals in Israel are preparing to treat hostages, according to a report reviewed by Fox News.
"Our main concern is the long time... they are probably held in very, very bad conditions, lack of nutrition, lack of hygiene," said Dr. Hagar Mizrahi, the head of the medical directorate at Israel’s health ministry.