Report: Trump to Visit Israel Over Weekend as Hostage Release Seems Imminent
Prime Minister Netanyahu: “With God’s help we will bring them all home.”
President Donald Trump is expected to visit Israel over the weekend after Hamas finally agrees to release all hostages under his 20-point Gaza peace plan.
“The first stage of the deal, involving an immediate ceasefire and release of the remaining 20 living hostages as early as Saturday and as late as Monday, will be signed at 12 PM local time,” the Israeli TV channel i24NEWS reported.
President Trump Hosts a Cabinet Meeting, Oct. 9, 2025 https://t.co/ovasnWgb9b
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 9, 2025
President Trump would be addressing the Israeli parliament, marking the possible return of all remaining hostages, after two years of brutal and agonizing captivity in Gaza. “According to Israeli media, Trump will arrive [in] Israel on Sunday and will speak at the Knesset,” the broadcaster added. “An assessment by a source familiar with the details said Hamas will release the hostages ahead of Trump’s arrival.”
🚨🚨 President Trump: I'll speak at the Israeli parliament, the knesset, on Sunday.@Jerusalem_Post
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) October 9, 2025
In exchange for 48 hostages, of which 20 are believed to be alive, Israel is expected to release around two thousand Palestinian terrorists, including 250 serving life sentences for murderous crimes.
Hostages’ families in Washington DC upon receiving the news of President Trump's announcement of an agreement that will return all the hostages home.
Credit: Liri Agami, Alon Kaplan pic.twitter.com/eeGI3fE3t2
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) October 9, 2025
Israeli medical services are gearing up to receive hostages suffering from trauma and starvation after more than two years of gruesome captivity in Hamas’s underground dungeons.
“Israel’s health system is preparing to receive hostages returning from Hamas captivity in Gaza, more than two years after they were abducted,” Israel’s Ynetnews reported Thursday. “The returnees are expected to be admitted to three major hospitals: Sourasky, Sheba and Rabin. In parallel, Soroka and Barzilai medical centers will remain designated facilities for urgent and complex cases.”
Hamas is obliged to release all hostages within 72 hours of accepting the deal.
"I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan… BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!" – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/lAUxi1UPYh
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 8, 2025
Speaking to Israel’s Channel 12, prominent journalist Amit Segal described the deal in its current form as a mere hostage deal, lacking the prospect of a long-term settlement.
“There’s no phase two,” he said. “The deal signed now is a hostage release deal. It doesn’t imply anything about the future.” Phase one of the deal includes the hostages-for-terrorist exchange and partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
Segal doubted Hamas’s intention of giving up arms in accordance with President Trump’s 20-point plan, a call the terrorist group has repeatedly rejected. “The talks afterwards are based on the principle of Israeli withdrawal in return for demilitarization and dismantling,” he added. “Of course, we all assume that Hamas won’t disarm willingly, and the Emiratis and other international forces won’t achieve this quickly either.”
My initial thoughts on the deal.
There’s no phase two. That's clear to everyone, right? Phase two might happen someday, but it’s unrelated to what’s just been signed.
The deal signed now is a hostage release deal. It doesn’t imply anything about the future. Theoretically,… pic.twitter.com/xy89BIGdNl
— Amit Segal (@AmitSegal) October 9, 2025
The Associated Press, on Thursday, outlined the Trump peace plan:
The Trump plan called for an immediate ceasefire and release of the 48 hostages that militants in Gaza still hold from their attack on Israel two years ago. Some 1,200 people were killed by Hamas-led militants, and 251 were taken hostage. Around 20 of the hostages are believed to still be alive. (…)
Under the plan conceived by Trump, Israel would maintain an open-ended military presence inside Gaza, along its border with Israel. An international force, comprised largely of troops from Arab and Muslim countries, would be responsible for security inside Gaza. The U.S. would lead a massive internationally funded reconstruction effort in Gaza. (…)
The plan also envisions an eventual role for the Palestinian Authority — something Netanyahu opposes. But it requires the authority, which administers parts of the West Bank, to undergo a sweeping reform program that could take years to implement.
All hostages are returning home. 💛
pic.twitter.com/yQin9H0Fyi— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 9, 2025
President Trump learned of the agreement on Wednesday during a White House roundtable upon receiving an urgent note from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was present in the room. NBC News described the historic moment:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio handed Trump a handwritten note during his roundtable event with influencers yesterday afternoon, which an Associated Press photographer captured as saying, “We are very close to a deal in the Middle East.”
“Need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first,” it read.
“I was just given a note by the secretary of state saying that we’re very close to a deal in the Middle East, and they’re going to need me pretty quickly,” Trump told the room.
In his first interview after the announcement, President Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity that “this is more than Gaza. This is peace in the Middle East, an incredible thing.”
“The whole world came together, to be honest, so many countries that you wouldn’t have even thought of it, and they came together. The world has come together around this deal, and that’s something I would say that without that wouldn’t happen,” the president said in a 20-minute interview. “So many countries that you wouldn’t have thought of have wired their best wishes and their commitment to do whatever is necessary. The countries surrounding have all signed, I mean, they’re all signed up, and it’s been, it’s been really an amazing period of time.”
Netanyahu: “With God’s help we will bring them all home”
Following the White House roundtable, Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke with President Trump on the phone. Both leaders “had a very emotional and warm conversation, congratulating each other on the historic achievement of signing the agreement for the release of all the hostages,” the readout of the phone call released by the Israeli prime minister’s office said.
Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked President Trump and invited him to Israel. “The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for all his efforts and for his global leadership, and President Trump congratulated the Prime Minister for his determined leadership and the actions he led,” the readout said. “In addition, the Prime Minister invited President Trump to address the Knesset.”
After the phone call, Prime Minister Netanyahu released a one-line statement on his official website, saying: “With God’s help we will bring them all home.”
List of living hostages in Gaza set to return to their families in Israel:
1. Elkana Buchbot
2. Bar Kuperstein
3. Maxim Harkin
4. Segev Kalfon
5. Ziv Berman
6. Gali Berman
7. Eitan Horn
8. Ariel Cunio
9. David Cunio
10. Eitan Mor
11. Matan Angrest
12. Nimrod Cohen
13. Avinatan…— Michael Dickson (@michaeldickson) October 9, 2025
IDF prepares for hostage release, remains “ready for any scenario”
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has started making preparations to implement phase one of the Trump plan and receive the hostages.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday morning that the “Chief of the General Staff [Major-General Eyal Zamir] instructed to prepare to lead the operation for the hostages’ return, which is expected to be conducted with sensitivity and professionalism.”
“The IDF welcomes the signing of the agreement for the return of the hostages, which was signed overnight,” the military said.
This is the route the hostages will take home to Israel:
Stage 1: Transfer to the Red Cross at an agreed-upon point.
Stage 2: handover to the IDF — special forces will meet the hostages, secure their safety, and conduct an initial medical evaluation.
Stage 3: Arrive at an… pic.twitter.com/a2edcVtMCi
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) October 9, 2025
In light of Hamas’s history of deception, the Israeli ground troops were building up defensive positions. “During a situational assessment held overnight, the Chief of the General Staff instructed all forces, both on the front lines and in the rear areas, to prepare strong defenses and be ready for any scenario,” The IDF added. “Force deployments will be carried out in accordance with the directives of the political echelon and the stages of the agreement, with responsibility and a focus on the safety of our soldiers.”
The IDF welcomes the signing of the agreement for the return of the hostages, which was signed overnight.
During a situational assessment held overnight, the Chief of the General Staff instructed all forces, both on the front lines and in the rear areas, to prepare strong…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 9, 2025
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Comments
Trump needs to stay home. He can spike the football from DC and send Rubio to Israel. It’s just far too dangerous right now.
Expect Hamas to renege on the deal in some way and for everyone to pretend they haven’t reneged on the deal.
They always blame Israel when the other side attacks. It all started when Israel retaliated. Apparently you are just supposed to let Palestinians kill you, kidnap you or rape and burn you with no consequences. They are just that special.
I pray it’s true, but one – I’d be surprised if any hostages are still alive – because Hamasites are murderous liars, and two, I would never trust Hamasites not use this ploy as a suicidal ambush to kill more Isrealis – because Hamasites are murderous liars.
I seem to remember at some point in response to Israel’s early demands that Hamas return the hostages that Hamas leadership claimed they didn’t even know where all the hostages were located let alone whether they were alive or not. So they couldn’t return all the hostages. So what has changed between then and now that they can claim to be returning all the hostages now is what I want to know.
Nothing of use has changed. They are the the same murdering liars and they will renege as soon as possible. Maybe even kill the remaining hostages and return 58 bodies in exchange for 1000+ live terrorists..
If you’re at all objective about polities, you cannot help but marvel at what Mr. Trump has accomplished in 2025. The list of peace deals is long enough to require looking them up to be sure none were forgotten. If the Nobel Prize were the least bit legitimate (hint: it isn’t) Trump would win ten of them.
No wonder the left has gone stark raving mad. One of their own left their reservation and is beating them soundly.
I’ll believe this cease fire is real when the hostages actually get out.
All
Alive and dead
Hamas is probably frantically trying to feed the starving prisoners as I type
In hopes of their skeletal bodies looking a bit less like their were visiting the Nazis the last2 years
And why would they do that. Far too many images and videos of starving Israeli hostages were published by Hamas to fool anyone into thinking the hostages were well treated during their captivity. They might. try but it won’t fool anyone.
I don’t like Trump going to Israel for this. It is too reminiscent of Kurt Schlichter’s latest novel that opens with the assassination of President Trump. He should not be at a known time and place in easy range of the enemy. May he be well protected by US [Navy SEAL’s?] and Israeli forces, and may he get home safely.
Subotai Bahadur
Trump and Netanyahu are giving the win to Hamas and their supporters. Didn’t think either of them were such fools, but guess I was wrong on that one. This isn’t going to end well and there will be nobody to blame but those two. There’s no negotiating with terrorists and to do so is futile at best and is bound to failure. The only way peace will be achieved is if one side or the other does not exist. Either Israel or the Arabs. You can only choose one. Which will it be.
The world has changed in the last two years. Iran is no longer able to support Hamas financially and logistically. Qatar is no longer a safe haven for Hamas leadership caste. Europe is not going to come to save Hamas as Trump has made them irrelevant and the Arab world is slowly warming to the juices.
That is the world Hamas finds itself in today. Sure, they can f88k about and not hand the hostages over, and I pray they are not that stupid, as Leonidas once said.
So let’s see how this pans out next week.
The perfect is the enemy of the good.
I’m going to be cautiously optimistic.
Even if this deal has a chance of success, and I hope it does, the leftists are going to do everything in their power to sabotage it.
They would deny and destroy a cure for cancer if it was discovered during the Trump administration.
It seems unlikely that Israel will be duped and have no plans for future violations by Hamas. Ask Sinwar.
There was an attempt to do an October 7th during Trump’s first term that was decisively defeated by Israel. It failed to garner much attention over a thousand Hamas combatants attacked and few survived.
It is statistically impossible for any army to be right every time however so there will be another October 7th, it will be deadlier than October 7th, and if Israel still fears ending up with an occupation more than losing it will lose the next war to.
What makes this a bad deal is Netanyahu decided two years of a moronic strategy for Gaza was great for Israel and America.
If he had decided to accept Hamas’ presence and the next October 7th over a year ago he would have had a major case for himself as the man who saved Israel from pariah state status.
What he ended up with is being on the border of pariah state status and Hamas endures.
Wait, . . . isn’t a Dem District Court judge going to issue an immediate stay of Trump’s peace deal? What’s the holdup??