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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-09 at 18:07
HEADLINES
- Ceasefire pact sets hostage-prisoner exchange
- Global diplomacy backs ceasefire Iran sanctions loom
- PA seeks postwar Gaza role plan narrows
The time is now 2:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
The following is the best possible hourly news report prepared for on‑air delivery at 2:00 PM.
We begin with the ceasefire and hostage‑release agreement that was announced from Sharm el‑Sheikh. After weeks of intense diplomacy led by the United States, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a first phase intended to end active fighting and begin a transition toward a post‑war phase in Gaza. The package envisions the release of all living hostages and as many of the remains as possible within 72 hours of adoption, with a staged exchange that could begin within a day or two. In return, Israel would release roughly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli facilities, including several hundred convicted of deadly attacks, and allow the transfer of some 1,700 other detainees under military custody, alongside the transfer of dozens of bodies. Israel would also hand over the bodies of about 15 Palestinians for each dead hostage returned. An additional component calls for a broader flow of aid into Gaza as relief efforts expand.
These terms also set the stage for a major IDF redeployment. Within 24 hours of cabinet approval, Israel is expected to pull back to updated deployment lines, with the army maintaining security along a buffer zone at the Gaza border and in key corridors, including areas near the Philadelphi route along the Egypt border. The plan foresees that, within 72 hours of the retreat, Hamas will begin handing over the hostages it holds, beginning with those believed to be alive, while Israel completes the simultaneous prisoner releases and prepares for subsequent phases.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office and government officials stressed that the objective remains the destruction of Hamas’s operational capabilities and preventing Gaza from posing a threat again. They stressed that the success of the military campaign built the conditions for the hostage release and for a broader political and security framework that would prevent a relapse into renewed fighting. Israeli officials cautioned that the security environment remains volatile and that the enemy is not vanquished; they urged continued vigilance and discipline as the transition unfolds.
On the diplomatic front, international response to the ceasefire has been broadly positive but nuanced. French President Emmanuel Macron called the deal a great hope for regional peace while signaling that continued settlement activity in the West Bank could threaten the viability of a two‑state outcome and upset the alignment with international partners. French and other European ministers underscored that meaningful progress toward a Palestinian state remains a central objective of the broader effort. In Israel, leaders of the ruling coalition welcomed the step but warned that any long‑term settlement expansion could complicate the path to peace. German and other European foreign ministers stressed the need to ensure sustained support for humanitarian relief and political reforms linked to the Palestinian Authority.
In Israel’s neighborhood, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signaled that Turkey would participate in monitoring the ceasefire and contribute to Gaza’s reconstruction, while Egypt’s leadership welcomed the agreement and invited President Trump to participate in ceremony marking the accord. Egyptian diplomacy was central to shaping the framework, and Washington has signaled it will coordinate with regional partners as the plan moves from phase one to later steps. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu to extend congratulations and reaffirm ongoing cooperation between the two countries.
Published on 3 weeks, 6 days ago