A senior official in the Biden administration announced on Wednesday that five female IDF soldiers are expected to be released this Sunday as part of the hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. This exchange will see Palestinian Arab terrorist prisoners released in return.
The official also confirmed that two American citizens, Keith Siegel and Sagui Dekel-Chen, will be freed in the first phase of the agreement. He highlighted ongoing efforts to secure the return of all hostages, including Edan Alexander, whose family was contacted by a US government representative. The official underscored the commitment to recover the remains of four deceased American hostages as part of future phases.
The Biden administration emphasized the "especially warm" nature of a conversation on Wednesday between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Their discussion focused on the atrocities experienced by Israel and the hostages' plight.
The official credited the deal’s progress to shifting dynamics in the region, including the defeat of Hezbollah and the weakening of Hamas. These developments were described as pivotal in facilitating negotiations.
Earlier that day, Netanyahu’s office disclosed a call with President-elect Donald Trump, during which the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for Trump’s role in advancing the release of hostages and alleviating their families’ suffering. Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to bringing all hostages home and praised Trump’s stance against terrorism in Gaza.
The statement also revealed plans for an upcoming meeting between Netanyahu and Trump in Washington to address the hostage crisis and other pressing issues.
* Arutz 7 contributed to this article.
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