Israel-Hamas prisoner, hostage swap expected within days, Netanyahu adviser confirms

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s adviser, Dmitry Gendelman, said on Telegram that Israel’s government has approved a deal to release hostages held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, paving the way for their return within days.

Under the agreement, Israeli hostages are expected to be freed on October 13 or 14, Caliber.Az reports. 

In exchange, Israel will release 250 convicted terrorists and 1,700 Gaza residents detained since October 7.

All those released will be sent either to Gaza or elsewhere, and individuals freed under the deal will face a permanent ban on entering Israel or the West Bank.

The government approved the arrangement late on Thursday evening without a formal vote in the security cabinet. U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Wittkoff attended the session, a rare occurrence for foreign representatives.

According to the details released:

• 20 living hostages and 28 bodies are to be returned within 72 hours.

• Israel will hand over the remains of 360 militants under a formula of 15 for each Israeli killed.

• Türkiye and Qatar will join an international mission to oversee the implementation of the deal and assist in locating bodies.

• Defence Minister Israel Katz has instructed the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to respond forcefully to any attacks during the transitional period.

The deal has drawn criticism from within the coalition. Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and the Otzma Yehudit party voted against it, warning they would leave the government if Hamas retained any control.

U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed the agreement and said he plans to visit Israel and address the Knesset in support of the initiative.

By Aghakazim Guliyev