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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-12 at 03:06
HEADLINES
Gaza ceasefire moves to 72-hour hostage window
Blair to supervise Gaza post-war governance plan
Hostage Square erupts as Netanyahu booed
The time is now 11:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good evening. A US-brokered ceasefire agreement with Israel and Hamas announced from Sharm el-Sheikh is shaping the outlook for the Gaza crisis, with events moving toward the first phase of a prisoner-hostage exchange. Israeli officials say the initial withdrawal from Gaza has been completed, meeting the 24-hour window outlined in the deal, and the parties are now navigating the 72-hour window during which hostages are to be released in exchange for prisoners. The plan calls for the release of about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including a substantial number convicted of deadly attacks, in exchange for the return of hostages taken during the conflict.
Officials in Jerusalem have signaled that living hostages are expected to be transferred to Israel in the early hours of Monday, with additional releases possible at multiple sites as conditions permit. The timetable remains subject to security checks, logistics on the ground, and coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is to oversee transfers. Israeli officials have also warned that some of the dead may not be recovered within the 72-hour window, with bodies identified and transferred to Israel in a coordinated process. On the Palestinian side, Hamas has indicated acceptance of the schedule, while some Israeli sources caution that timing details can remain fluid as operations proceed.
The exchange is the centerpiece of the broader ceasefire framework announced in Sharm el-Sheikh, but negotiators are still hashing out the rest of the post-war arrangement, including how Gaza will be governed during a transition period. The White House framework envisions an internationally supervised, technocratic body for Gaza’s administration after the conflict, with a pathway for Reform by the Palestinian Authority before it can assume broader responsibilities in the territory. Tony Blair is slated to play a leading role in supervising Gaza’s post-war phase under the proposed arrangement, a development reflecting a broader international push to stabilize the aftermath of the fighting.
In Washington, administration officials and US allies stress the goal of achieving peace through strength and close collaboration with Israel, while seeking to prevent a broader regional escalation. The exchange and post-war governance questions are interwoven with concerns about the region’s stability, the influence of Iran and its proxies, and the humanitarian implications for Gaza’s civilian population. Observers note that Iran-backed networks in the region have been pressured in recent months, and while they remain a factor, the focus of the current phase is on the hostage-release logistics and the security architecture that would accompany any long-term settlement.
Turning to domestic developments in Israel, tension remains visible in public squares where supporters and critics gather around the hostage issue. A recent event at Hostage Square drew cheers and protests alike as a speech by the US envoy Steve Witkoff took place nearby. Some government officials and opposition figures criticized the booing of Prime Minister Netanyahu, saying it disrupted a moment meant to reflect on the seriousness of the hostage situation and the ongoing negotiations. In another sign of the emotional stakes involved, a public light display by Pelephone was staged to symbolize hope and national resolve in the anticipated return of the abductees.
Meanwhile, questions persist about how Gaza and the region will be managed after the war. Ahmed Khuzaie has raised questions about future Palestinian governance in Gaza under the Trump-era plan referenced in the intern
Published on 3 weeks, 4 days ago