72-Hour Hostage Exchange Period Begins Following Israeli Withdrawal

US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff has announced the official commencement of a 72-hour hostage release period following Israel's completed military withdrawal from designated Gaza positions. The timeline activation follows US Central Command's confirmation that Israeli forces reached specified withdrawal lines at noon local time Friday, fulfilling the initial ceasefire agreement requirement.

Withdrawal Confirmation and Timeline Activation

Witkoff confirmed through social media platform X that CENTCOM verified Israel's military repositioning to the agreed "yellow line," triggering the 72-hour window for hostage releases. The envoy's announcement marks a critical implementation milestone in the ceasefire agreement brokered by the Trump administration between Israel and Hamas leadership.

Hostage Release Requirements and Challenges

Under the established framework, Hamas must release 20 living Israeli captives and return 28 deceased hostages' remains within the three-day period. The agreement acknowledges practical challenges in locating and recovering bodies of hostages who died during captivity, potentially complicating full compliance with this provision of the arrangement.

Prisoner Exchange Terms and Implementation

In reciprocal action, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences alongside 1,700 detainees arrested in Gaza since October 2023. The prisoner exchange represents one of the largest such operations in recent years and constitutes a central component of the comprehensive ceasefire agreement aimed at ending two years of hostilities.