Sri Lanka, Oct. 9 -- Israeli hostages may be released as early as Saturday (Oct 11) under a US plan to end the war in Gaza and the country's military will complete the first part of a partial withdrawal from the enclave within 24 hours of the deal being signed, said a source briefed on details of the agreement.

The signing of the agreement on the first stage of US President Donald Trump's initiative for Gaza is expected to take place at noon Israel time (5pm, Singapore time) on Thursday.

Israelis and Palestinians rejoiced after Trump announced that a ceasefire and hostage deal had been reached under the first phase of his plan to end a war in Gaza that has killed more than 67,000 people and reshaped the Middle East.

Just a day after th...