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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-12 at 02:07
HEADLINES
US brokered Gaza ceasefire sets hostage schedule
Netanyahu booed as peace talks intensify
Tennessee facility explosion leaves 16 dead
The time is now 10:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good evening. We begin with the evolving ceasefire, hostage negotiations, and the broader security picture in the region. A United States‑brokered agreement announced in Sharm el-Sheikh is entering a new phase as both sides prepare for a staged exchange and a significant Gaza withdrawal. The plan calls for Israel to complete its initial withdrawal within 24 hours, after which Hamas would have a 72‑hour window to release the hostages. In exchange, Israel would free roughly two thousand Palestinian prisoners, including a mix of security prisoners and detainees from Gaza. The aim, officials say, is to return living hostages first, with the remains of those killed identified and repatriated in a coordinated, orderly process through international channels, including the Red Cross and a multinational task force.
Official briefings put some detail on timing, though uncertainty remains. Israeli and Hamas officials indicate that the release of hostages could begin as early as Monday morning, with the exact moment known only a few hours in advance. The plan envisions a collection at a single location or multiple points across Gaza, followed by a broader prisoner exchange. The International Committee of the Red Cross is coordinating the transfers, and families of captives are being kept informed as identities are verified and remains are processed.
In the midst of these developments, Israelis saw a public display of support and hope. In a gesture described by organizers as symbolizing hope, embrace, and national joy, Pelephone lit messages in the night sky for the return of Gaza hostages, a display planned to run through Sunday night and framed by official statements as a sign of confidence that all abductees will soon be brought home.
Inside Israel, domestic politics also moved into view. Cabinet ministers and senior opposition figure Benny Gantz condemned protesters who booed Prime Minister Netanyahu during a public address by US envoy Steve Witkoff at Hostage Square. The incident underscored the political sensitivities surrounding the negotiations and the fear that domestic divisions could complicate a unified national message during a critical moment.
On the security front, a Palestinian prisoner who was slated for release under the ceasefire deal attacked a female prison guard before being restrained and detained, a reminder that tensions and risk remain even as steps toward exchange proceed.
Internationally, the flow of diplomacy continued. The United Kingdom’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, announced his intention to attend a Middle East peace summit in Egypt, signaling continued international involvement as the framework moves from agreement to implementation. In parallel, sources in the Times of Israel report that Tony Blair is positioned to play a leading role in an international body intended to oversee Gaza in the transitional period envisioned by the plan. The White House plan describes a post-war framework that includes governance structures and reform requirements for the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank as conditions for broader stability.
Sources close to the talks cautioned that the path ahead remains fraught with logistical and political complexity. US officials emphasize a close, working relationship with Israel to pursue peace through strength, a stance associated with the administration led by President Donald Trump and viewed as a guiding principle in coordinating the ceasefire and the post-war period. In this context, international observers and regional partners are watching closely for how the phased exchange unfolds, how many hostages are verified as alive,
Published on 3 weeks, 4 days ago