Rows of buses lined the street outside the International Committee of the Red Cross offices in Deir al-Balah at midnight on Monday, as Gaza braced for a major captive swap seen as a fragile step toward relief after nearly two years of genocide.
Palestinian sources confirmed that exchange lists had been approved and that the first transfers would begin at 08:00 local time.
The Palestinian Quds Network reported that Israeli captives would be released in two batches, at 08:00 and 10:00, while Palestinian prisoners would be freed at 10:00.
Under the arrangement, Hamas is to hand over 20 living Israeli captives and the bodies of 28 others, while Israel will release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The package includes nearly 250 Palestinians serving long sentences and roughly 1,700 people detained during the recent assault on Gaza, according to families and officials.
Red Cross teams have been processing names and preparing vehicles to transport released captives out of Gaza to a military reception point south of the occupied territories.
Preparatives are underway in Gaza's Deir el-Balah, as rows of buses are seen in front of the International Committee of the Red Cross offices, ahead of the prisoner-hostage swap due to happen in the morning.
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Hamas security forces have deployed across the Strip to maintain order and confront armed gangs and collaborators accused of exploiting the chaos.
The exchange coincides with US President Donald Trump’s trip to the region for a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, aimed at discussing the next steps in the ceasefire process.
Trump, who declared the war over as he departed Washington, is expected to arrive in Israel shortly after the releases.
Mediators say the deal includes staged withdrawals, multinational security arrangements, and a transition in Gaza’s governance to prevent a return to the genocide.
Yet many Palestinians remain deeply skeptical that such measures will secure their long-term rights and dignity.
