Vice President JD Vance said Sunday that the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza could be released at “any moment now,” ahead of a Monday deadline, as part of the first phase of a peace plan between Israel and Hamas.
“It really should be any moment now,” the vice president told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” when asked about the timing of the hostages’ release.
“The president of the United States is planning to travel to the Middle East to greet the hostages Monday morning, Middle Eastern time,” Vance added. “Which should be late, you know, Sunday night, or very early Monday morning here in the United States.”
The vice president stressed that “you can’t say exactly the moment they will be released, but we have every expectation — that’s why the president is going — that he will be greeting the hostages early next week.”
Trump is expected to travel to the Middle East later Sunday for a whirlwind trip to Israel and Egypt to oversee the beginning of the first phase of a peace deal the Trump administration helped negotiate between Israel and Hamas.
After a ceasefire began on Friday as part of the first phase of the peace deal, Israel began to prepare for the release of the hostages within the next 72 hours, a deadline that expires at noon local time on Monday, or 5 a.m. ET.
There are 48 hostages remaining in Gaza, of which Israel believes 20 are alive.
In an interview with Sky News on Sunday, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, Sharren Haskel, also predicted the release of Israeli hostages sooner than expected.
“I think [Hamas] might start even releasing them tonight. So, earlier than expected,” Haskel said, adding later: “We really hope to see them as quickly as possible.”
The Israeli government approved the terms for the first phase of a peace deal early Friday, just over two years after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, where 1,200 people were killed and another 250 were taken hostage. More than 67,000 people have been killed in Gaza in the years since, according to local health officials.
The plan includes the release of all remaining Israeli hostages and the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees who are currently being held in Israel.
The plan is also expected to ensure the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, though larger questions about the long-term leadership and governance of the Gaza Strip still remain.
Two U.S. officials familiar with the plans told NBC News that the U.S. military was preparing to send 200 U.S. troops to Israel to support the stabilization of Gaza and to help oversee the distribution of humanitarian aid in the region.
Asked about NBC News’ reporting on Sunday, the vice president said that the plan would not include ground troops in Israel or Gaza.
“We’re not planning to put boots on the ground,” Vance said. “What we already have is a U.S. Central Command. We already have people in that region of the world. They’re going to monitor the terms of the ceasefire. They’re going to monitor to ensure that the humanitarian aid is flowing.”
“Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker pressed Vance: “Will US troops ever be sent into Gaza?”
Trump is “not planning to put boots on the ground in Gaza or Israel,” he said.
Patrick Smith contributed.
