Ticking Clock: Hamas Given 72 Hours to Liberate 48 Hostages
The countdown to end the two-year hostage crisis and bring an official close to the brutal war in Gaza will begin Thursday morning, as Israel’s security cabinet and government meet to approve a deal finalized overnight…

The countdown to end the two-year hostage crisis and bring an official close to the brutal war in Gaza will begin Thursday morning, as Israel’s security cabinet and government meet to approve a deal finalized overnight.
According to Fox News, once approved, Hamas will have 72 hours to release the 48 hostages — 20 believed to be alive and 28 deceased — “in one fell swoop and without public ceremonies,” according to Israeli news agency TPS-IL. The agreement was brokered by Egyptian, Qatari, Turkish, and U.S. mediators.
However, questions remain over whether Hamas can meet the 72-hour deadline after warning that locating the remains of all deceased hostages could take additional time, with some reportedly buried beneath rubble.
Under the terms of the deal, the Israel Defense Forces will begin withdrawing within 24 hours of the government’s approval to a designated line agreed upon with Hamas, though troops will remain in 53% of the Gaza Strip until all hostages—living and dead—are returned.
As part of the first phase of the plan introduced by President Donald Trump late last month, Israel



