John Kirby, the White House national security communications adviser, expressed confidence on Thursday morning that a cease-fire and hostage exchange deal could still be put into action on Sunday. Families of two Americans expecting immediate release are eagerly awaiting updates.
Kirby informed ABC’s George Stephanopoulos about the deal, stating, “There’s a deal. We’re confident that we’re going to be able to start implementing it on Sunday. There are some implementing details that still need to be ironed out. We’re working with the Israelis on that very, very hard right now.
“But we’re confident that we’re going to get there,” he added.
A picture displayed shows American hostages held in Gaza, including Edan Alexander, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Keith Siegel, Omer Neutra, Judi Weinstein Haggai, Gadi Haggai, and Itay Chen, awaiting potential release.
Some 33 hostages have been slated to be released in the first phase of the agreement that will prioritize the release any potential children, women, the elderly and the sick or wounded. Â The initial phase will last a 42-day period with hostages being incrementally released, including three captives that will be freed on the first day that the deal is implemented.
Some reports have suggested that three Israeli female soldiers may be released on the first day of the agreement.
Though a senior administration official on Wednesday told Fox News, as well as other reporters, that two of the three living Americans in Gaza are slated to be released on the first day.
“We will see – and I don’t want to say until we actually see them – but Keith Siegel and Sagui Dekel-Chen will come out in the first day and Edan will come out of Gaza, no doubt about it,” the official said.
Edan Alexander is a 21-year-old American Israeli who served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on the day of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, though soldiers are not slated to be released until the second phase, which will begin on the 43rd day of the cease-fire.Â
Israeli hostage families carry the photos of their loved ones who are held hostage by Hamas in Gaza as they march to Jerusalem. (Matan Golan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Specifics of the release of the remaining hostages, both dead and alive, will begin to be negotiated on the 16th day of the first phase.Â
At least 98 hostages continue to be held in Gaza, 94 of whom were taken on Oct. 7, 2023. While 62 of them are believed to be alive, 36 are assessed to be deceased.Â
“We are committed to getting all Americans. These are American-Israeli citizens, all of them out of Gaza,” the official said. “Whether living or remains. That is our commitment.”Â
