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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-10 at 10:04
HEADLINES
Gaza ceasefire brokered, hostages to be freed
U.S. to oversee ceasefire with 200 CENTCOM
Netanyahu cabinet approves ceasefire amid coalition backlash
The time is now 6:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Six o’clock update. The Gaza ceasefire deal brokered in Sharm el-Sheikh with United States mediation is moving into its first operational phase. Under the agreement, hostages are to be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a halt to the fighting, with a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces have begun repositioning to new lines inside Gaza, and the 72‑hour countdown for the hostages’ release begins after that withdrawal is completed. The international framework centers on a US-led process with mediators from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, and a 20-point plan that maps the steps from an immediate halt to fighting to longer‑term governance and security arrangements in Gaza.
The United States has signaled it will deploy roughly 200 Central Command personnel to the region to oversee coordination and provide situational awareness. Officials stress that American forces will not enter Gaza; the role is to monitor and support the ceasefire, with potential ISF involvement as a follow‑on, phased transition rather than a US ground deployment.
In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet approved the ceasefire deal in the early hours, even as several far‑right coalition partners voiced objections. The domestic debate has centered on the terms of the hostage exchange, the size and identity of the prisoner list to be released, and the path to controlling the next phases of Gaza’s governance. Late‑breaking reports indicate a last‑minute shift in the hostage‑swap identities, with the government conducting a telephonic vote to replace certain names; the full list for public release has not yet been published as ministers weigh competing priorities and security considerations. Netanyahu is scheduled to address the nation at 1:00 PM local time to outline the plan’s next steps and reassure the public.
A Maariv poll released in the wake of the breakthrough shows political momentum shifting toward Netanyahu’s Likud, which gained three seats as the opposition appears to lose its bid to form a new government. Within the Knesset, lawmakers praised the return of hostages and the Gaza deal, even as some ministers argued that the leadership of the coalition bore responsibility for critical missteps in the negotiation. The result could influence any considerations of timing for elections, depending on how the ceasefire’s implementation unfolds and public sentiment evolves amid continuing security concerns.
Looking ahead, the immediate tests include the sequencing and timetables for the hostage releases, the verification of the initial disengagement in Gaza, and the practical steps for a broader security framework. The plan envisions separating the hostage release from later phases dealing with Gaza’s postwar order, a structure designed to reduce leverage for spoilers and to increase accountability for all sides. Washington’s role, framed in terms of “peace through strength,” aims to reassure allies, deter mischief, and preserve the prospect for more robust regional normalization if the process holds.
Internationally, observers note that the deal could re‑open channels for normalization talks in the broader Middle East, potentially creating space with Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Qatar, and other partners that have been cautious in the wake of the war. The administration has emphasized that sustained coordination with regional and Arab partners will be crucial to stabilize Gaza and to translate the ceasefire into a sustainable political settlement.
In other headlines, Maria Corina Machado of Venezuela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, a development drawin
Published on 3 weeks, 6 days ago