Vice President JD Vance said the remaining Israeli hostages could be released by Hamas at "any moment now" Sunday (October 12) morning, hours ahead of an official Monday (October 13) deadline in adherence with the first part of a ceasefire agreement between the two sides.

"It really should be any moment now," Vance told NBC News' Meet the Press.

"The president of the United States is planning to travel to the Middle East to greet the hostages Monday morning, Middle Eastern Time," he added. "Which should be late, you know, Sunday night, or very early Monday morning here in the United States."

The remaining 48 Israeli hostages, which includes around 20 suspected to still be alive, being released was reported to be part of the first face of the announced peace deal between Israel and Hamas shortly after Trump's original announcement on Thursday (October 9). The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said its members felt "a mix of excitement, anticipation, and concern" following the agreement, which came two years and one day after the Israeli hostages were taken captive by Hamas.

Hamas has confirmed it will participate in the hostage and prisoner exchange, however, hasn't said it would disarm and disband, which was a key stipulation in Trump's proposal. The first phase also hasn't given a medium or long-term plan on Gaza's future as the Israel Defense Forces said it would adjust "deployment lines soon" but reiterated that parts of Gaza were "still considered a dangerous combat zone" and confirmed that troops were "deployed and operating anywhere in the Strip."

A previous ceasefire lasted from January 19 to March 18, which was followed by a barrage of deadly airstrikes launched by Israel across the Gaza Strip. Israel blamed Hamas for the hostilities, claiming the militant group refused to meet its demand to release more hostages at the time.

Israel launched its war with Hamas following the October 7, 2023, attack on an Israeli music festival, which resulted in an estimated 1,200 deaths and 251 people being taken hostage. Israel retaliated with its war on the terror organization carried out in Gaza resulting in more than 69,000 Palestinians and more than 1,900 Israelis being killed.

A United Nations commission comprised of a team of independent experts formally accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and called on the international community to end the campaign last month.

Jeffrey T. Mason