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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-12 at 15:05
HEADLINES
20 Hostages to Be Released First Phase
Trump to Visit Israel Push Ceasefire
London Protests Demand Palestinian State Now
The time is now 11:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
The Gaza ceasefire brokered in Sharm el-Sheikh remains in effect as international mediators continue to monitor commitments on both sides. Israel and Hamas have signaled adherence to the pause in fighting, even as the day’s developments center on the next phase of the broader deal. The plan calls for a staged release of hostages held in Gaza, tied to the release of Palestinian prisoners, with authorities stressing that every step will proceed exactly as signed and under the protection of the Red Cross and international observers.
Early Monday morning local time, Israel expects the release of living hostages to begin, with estimates placing the start between four and seven o’clock. The arrangement envisions the transfer of the 20 living hostages, with the bodies of dead hostages to follow as identified, and the operation to be overseen by a multilateral task force including Israel, the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and the Red Cross. The release will take place in phases, and the first phase is planned to conclude by noon local time. In parallel, nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners are slated for release in exchange, including approximately 250 men serving life terms, with remaining prisoners moving to various locations within the West Bank or abroad as part of the deal.
Logistics for the handover have been carefully mapped. A Red Cross convoy of up to 10 vehicles is prepared to collect the surviving hostages and transfer them to Israeli forces, who will move them to a meeting point with their families inside Israel. Three Israeli hospitals will treat returnees as needed, with a medical plan to ensure urgent care is available. After the living hostages are delivered, the Red Cross convoy is expected to return to Gaza to retrieve the remains of those who did not survive captivity. The operation is designed to preserve family reunions in a dedicated space at a base in Israel and to expedite medical evaluations for returning hostages.
On the diplomatic front, expectations are high for continued momentum. The schedule includes a visit by US President Donald Trump to Israel, with discussions expected to focus on the Gaza ceasefire and the broader peace framework, followed by a regional summit in Egypt. Israeli officials have indicated readiness to receive the hostages promptly should they be released earlier than the scheduled window, and they have emphasized that the mission will not conclude until all remaining fallen hostages are accounted for and returned.
Across the region, analysts say the pause and the hostage deal alter the regional calculus. Iran’s network of proxies—active in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, and beyond—faces recalibration as the focus shifts to ceasefire enforcement and humanitarian considerations. Some observers contend the agreement’s structure narrows the room for Iran’s proxies to exploit a sustained conflict for strategic gains, while others warn that the deal will not erase long-standing grievances or guarantee enduring peace without verifiable commitments and regional oversight.
Domestically in Israel, political and security developments continue to unfold. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested the cancellation of a criminal testimony hearing scheduled for this week, citing a critical diplomatic meeting and an unexpected visit by the Cypriot president. Meanwhile, public debate continues over the terms of the hostage-prisoner exchange, including the fate of life-term prisoners to be released as part of the deal. In the West Bank and Gaza, authorities have expressed concern about potential security repercussions from the release and the potential for militant groups to regroup, e
Published on 3 weeks, 4 days ago