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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-12 at 16:06
HEADLINES
Israel to release 20 living hostages Monday
Iran and proxies loom over Gaza ceasefire
Saudi Turkish talks push Gaza stabilization plan
The time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is a live update on the Gaza ceasefire and related developments. The ceasefire brokered with US involvement and backed by Qatar, Egypt and Turkey remains in place as both sides prepare for the phased exchange that includes living hostages and the remains of those killed in captivity. Israel has finalized preparations for the release of 20 living hostages, set to begin Monday morning local time. A Red Cross convoy will move the captives from Gaza into Israeli custody, with the initial checks performed by military medical teams near the border. Those in urgent need of care will be airlifted to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon or Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. The released individuals will travel by convoy to the Re’im base, where families await and where comprehensive medical evaluations will take place. Israel has indicated the operation for the living hostages will occur in a single phase and is expected to conclude by noon, after which the remains of deceased hostages will be retrieved by the same international framework.
The plan also calls for the transfer of the 28 deceased hostages’ remains, with a joint task force drawn from Israel, the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Red Cross channels to coordinate the identification and return process. The international team will work directly with Hamas and with on the ground security arrangements, including allowing necessary equipment entry for recovery operations. Israel emphasizes that the mission remains a top priority and will continue with subsequent steps to locate and recover all those still unaccounted for.
On the diplomatic front, the Palestinian Authority says it is prepared to cooperate with the Trump administration and Tony Blair to help stabilize the Gaza ceasefire and begin rebuilding efforts, contingent on reform and governance conditions. A senior Palestinian official, speaking in connection with Blair’s visit, underscored that the PA would be involved in stabilizing Gaza as part of a broader peace process. In Washington, officials have praised the Gaza deal, while urging caution that the agreement be implemented faithfully and that all sides keep faith with the terms of the arrangement.
International developments continue to shape the context around the ceasefire as well. Riyadh and Ankara figures have floated pathways to normalization and a broader regional security dynamic. One senior regional source suggested that normalization with Israel could be feasible once a new Israeli government is in place, while Turkish officials have signaled that Ankara could participate in a multinational stabilization framework for Gaza. These conversations reflect a broader regional calculus about the consequences of the truce for Iran, Yemen and the wider Middle East.
Iran and its proxies remain a central strategic concern for Israel as the Gaza truce proceeds. Israeli observers note a rebalancing of attention toward Iran and Yemen with the conclusion of active Gaza combat operations. Tehran’s ongoing missile and drone programs, along with concerns about potential advances in its nuclear program, have raised the risk of escalation elsewhere in the region. Satellite intelligence has fed concern about possible enrichment activity south of Natanz, even as European and US authorities weigh the next steps in the nuclear diplomacy track. The question for Israel remains how to deter or respond to renewed Iranian pressure while maintaining the gains from the Gaza ceasefire and preventing a broader regional flare-up.
Domestically, Israel is managing a range of security and political developments as the hostage release approaches. Early t
Published on 3 weeks, 3 days ago