First 50 Hamas Hostages Released in Imminent Ceasefire Deal Would Be Israeli or Dual Citizens: Report

A prospective hostage deal between Israel and Hamas would not include foreign citizens, only Israelis and Israeli dual-nationals, a senior Israeli official told journalists on Tuesday.

Under the current agreement being hammered out, at least 50 Israeli hostages would be released, according to multiple Israeli outlets briefed on the outlines of the deal. Israel's cabinet is expected to vote on the deal Tuesday evening, with a 24-hour public comment period to follow.

Earlier on Tuesday, President Biden said he was hopeful that the hostages would be liberated “very soon.”

Israel is also set to release about 150 Palestinians in Israeli jails, but only those who have not been convicted of killing Israeli citizens, according to the official cited by the Jerusalem Post.

Israel is also expected to halt military operations for four days, during which time Hamas will seek to persuade other Islamic factions in Gaza to hand over hostages they are holding. For every additional 10 hostages released, Israel will reportedly agree to prolong the ceasefire by a day.

"Hamas, as far as we are concerned, needs to bring the people back, including from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other elements," said the official.

The deal to release the hostages has the support of the IDF, Shin Bet, and the Mossad, the Post reported, but still needs to be ratified by Benjamin Netanyahu's government.