As a 72-hour countdown began Friday for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, Yehuda Cohen is preparing for a reunion with his 21-year-old son, Nimrod.

Cohen's son, an Israeli soldier, was captured by Hamas and taken hostage near the Gaza border on Oct. 7, 2023, when he was just 19 years old. Now, with the formal approval of the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release deal, Cohen is hopeful he'll see his son again soon.

"We started the count, the 72 hours, we are on the third hour and we are waiting, probably will take another two days but we're waiting for getting the exact time and where to come and meet Nimrod finally," Cohen said Friday on "CBS Mornings."

The Israeli military said a ceasefire went into effect at noon local time as part of

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