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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-09 at 22:07
HEADLINES
Ceasefire promises hostage releases within 72 hours
US command center tracks Trump's plan
UN unveils 60-day Gaza relief plan
The time is now 6:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Six o’clock this evening, a ceasefire arrangement brokered with the help of Egypt and the United States is moving from paper to practice as Israel and Hamas publicly signaled agreement on the terms that will govern the next phase of the Gaza crisis. The terms call for a halt to hostilities and, crucially, a framework for the return of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, with the first round of releases expected within 72 hours after the Israeli Defense Forces withdraw from the area around Gaza City and the border.
In the negotiating outline, Hamas is required to provide comprehensive information about the captives it holds, including those from other Palestinian factions, to feed a newly established implementation mechanism. That mechanism is to be staffed and overseen by a coalition that includes the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, with the potential involvement of the Red Cross. The initial exchange reportedly centers on the release of living and dead hostages in return for about 250 Palestinian prisoners. The plan envisions the absence of public ceremonies or media coverage as part of the hostage release process, a provision intended to minimize disruption and political theater as the region moves into a sensitive transition phase.
On the security front, Washington said that President Donald Trump’s twenty-point plan will be monitored from a new command and control facility established in Israel. A senior United States general and hundreds of American personnel will be tasked with overseeing the execution of the plan as the parties seek to bring about a conclusive end to the fighting. This arrangement marks a close coordination between Washington and Jerusalem in what is presented as a peace-through-strength approach aimed at deterring any resurgence of hostilities while stabilizing the region.
In parallel, Israeli authorities reported that a strike against a Hamas terrorist cell in a building in Gaza City killed four people and left dozens unaccounted for, underscoring the fragile line between offensive action and the onset of a ceasefire. Palestinian authorities and media outlets described civilian casualties and a high number of missing persons, illustrating the human costs that accompany any military campaign and the urgency of the pause in fighting.
The ceasefire moves come as Germany is expected to lift its arms embargo on Israel in the wake of the agreement, a development German officials and Israeli leaders have discussed in recent days. The move is seen as a potential shift in the security calculus for Israel, which will now enter the next phase of implementation with greater regional latitude but also heightened scrutiny from partners seeking to balance military readiness with diplomatic progress.
International mediation continues to play a central role. Qatar’s prime minister stressed the need to ensure the agreement is fully implemented, signaling that regional mediators view the plan as a turning point in the Gaza crisis. In a contrasting assessment, the Palestinian side has described guarantees from the United States and other mediators as critical to their confidence in the process, while warning that any breach could derail the broader effort toward peace.
The United Nations has meanwhile unveiled a detailed sixty-day plan to rush aid into Gaza once the ceasefire begins, emphasizing readiness with food, medicine, and essential supplies. Tom Fletcher, head of humanitarian operations for the United Nations, described the plan as tested and in place, noting that supplies—arterial to relief efforts—are staged for rapid deployment if conditions permit. The plan marks a p
Published on 3 weeks, 6 days ago