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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-09 at 23:06
HEADLINES
Ceasefire activates amid massive hostage exchange
UN outlines 60 day Gaza relief plan
Gaza airstrike near Hamas cell kills civilians
The time is now 7:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At seven o’clock this evening, the long awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, brokered by the United States and mediated in Sharm el-Sheikh, goes into effect after Israel’s government approved the hostage deal that enables a staged end to the Gaza war. The framework calls for a rapid humanitarian relief effort to begin at once, followed by a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from portions of the Gaza Strip, with a 72‑hour window set for Hamas to release all hostages once the withdrawal is completed.
Under the accord, Israel will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 security inmates, in exchange for the remaining hostages held in Gaza. The deal also calls for the release of 1,700 Gazan detainees who were jailed after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks. The government says the exchange will proceed in tandem with the hostage releases and prisoner releases, with an information‑sharing mechanism established to account for any remains that might not be recovered within the 72‑hour window. The plan specifies that public ceremonies or media coverage of the exchanges will not occur, and a joint task force—comprising representatives from the United States, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey and other parties to be agreed upon—will monitor and coordinate the implementation.
On the military side, Israel will withdraw to lines inside the Gaza Strip and will maintain security control over approximately 53 percent of the territory. The withdrawal is to be completed within 24 hours of Israeli government approval, after which the 72‑hour period for Hamas to conduct the hostage releases begins. The accord envisions the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza immediately, with relief arriving in earnest as security arrangements and security guarantees are put in place. The United Nations has articulated a detailed 60‑day plan to rush aid into Gaza once the ceasefire starts, stating that 170,000 metric tons of food, medicine and other supplies are ready and that its teams are in position to operate.
International reaction to the deal has been swift. Germany is reportedly prepared to lift its arms embargo on Israel in response to the ceasefire and hostage agreements, a move welcomed by Israeli officials as a sign of broader international support for the path to stability. In the Middle East, mediators and regional partners are signaling a desire to see the accord fully implemented, with Qatar stressing the need to ensure all elements of the deal are carried out. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in a rare interview with an Israeli network, expressed hope that peace would prevail following the signing of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, saying the moment could mark a turning point in the broader pursuit of stability.
On the ground in Israel and Gaza, the political and security picture remains sensitive. Before the cabinet vote to approve the deal, some far‑right ministers, including members of the Religious Zionism party and Otzma Yehudit, voiced opposition, while others urged acceptance in the interests of saving lives. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has framed the arrangement as a critical step toward returning hostages and reasserting security, noting that the effort reflects a shared objective with the United States and the international community to safeguard Israeli citizens while addressing humanitarian needs.
In Gaza City, an Israeli airstrike targeted a Hamas cell near a building that attacked troops nearby. Palestinian media reported that four civilians were killed and that dozens more were missing in the rubble, a toll that the Israeli military said reflected a strike against a group operati
Published on 3 weeks, 6 days ago