First Phase of Hostage Deal Five Israeli Female Soldiers to Be Released on Sunday

Five Israeli female soldiers are set to be released from Gaza on Sunday, the first day of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, according to a report by KAN news confirmed by a senior U.S. official.

The exchange, mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, will also include the release of Palestinian prisoners as part of the first phase of the deal. Additionally, two American citizens, Keith Siegel and Sagie Dekel-Chen, are expected to be freed during this stage.

While the release of hostages is a significant step forward, some families expressed disappointment with the deal’s limitations.

"I am disappointed that this agreement does not talk about all the hostages," said Ruby Chen, father of American-Israeli IDF Sgt. Itay Chen, in an interview with Fox News Digital. "It is unacceptable that the second phase is not defined in a way that shows when my son will be released from captivity."

The first phase of the agreement, expected to last 42 days, will reportedly see the release of 33 hostages. Arab media reports indicate that subsequent phases remain undefined, with negotiations for the second phase set to begin two weeks after the ceasefire begins.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced that the deal’s final details are still being ironed out, leaving questions about the full scope of the agreement unanswered.

As the ceasefire approaches, hope grows for the safe return of all hostages, though uncertainty lingers regarding those not included in the first phase.

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