Podcast Episode Details

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-12 at 20:04

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HEADLINES
- Twenty hostages freed for 250 Palestinian prisoners
- Sharm summit opens phase toward Hamas disarmament
- Hamas faces pressure over prisoner lists

The time is now 4:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

The ceasefire in Gaza is holding as Israel prepares to exchange hostages for prisoners in what the government calls a historic step toward ending the war, while warning that the security threats from Hamas are not behind it. Authorities say the first waves of freed hostages are scheduled to depart from two locations in Gaza at 8:00 a.m. local time, with a second wave at 9:00 a.m. from Gaza City, central Gaza, and Khan Yunis in the south. In total, 48 people were seized in the October 7 attacks, about 20 of whom are believed to still be alive and in captivity. The exchange schedule calls for the release of 20 living hostages in return for 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life terms, plus a further 1,700 Gazans imprisoned since the start of the conflict. The plan, designed with American and Egyptian cooperation, marks the first phase of a broader effort to end the fighting and set the stage for later steps aimed at Hamas’ disarmament and Gaza’s reconstruction.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the nation ahead of the hostage releases, described the moment as historic and a sign of resilience, while noting that the war is not over and that significant security challenges remain. Military leaders echoed that sentiment. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said the past two years of pressure on Hamas, combined with diplomatic moves, have produced a “victory,” but Israel will continue to shape a security reality that prevents Gaza from posing a threat again. He stressed that safety for troops and for the released hostages remains the overriding priority as Israel faces a multifront security environment in the region.

On the diplomatic front, the gatherings in Sharm el-Sheikh signaled a shift toward a broader peace framework, with Washington asserting that the event symbolized the opening of the plan’s next phase rather than its conclusion. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has spoken with families, acknowledging that recovering all remains may prove extremely difficult. Vice President JD Vance, speaking to Fox News, cautioned that some deceased hostages “may never get back.” The White House and Treasury officials have described the process as a phased effort, with close coordination between Israel, Egypt, and the United States, including the administration associated with President Donald Trump’s peace vision that emphasized a strategy of peace through strength and disarmament of Hamas.

Regional dynamics remain in play. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain have voiced concern about concessions to Qatar within the broader plan, warning that Doha’s involvement could complicate deradicalization efforts and the prospect of Hamas reemerging in Gaza. Several Gulf states continue to back a two-state framework and insist that Palestinian Authority governance be restored in Gaza only after reforms and credible security measures, while signaling willingness to participate in Gaza’s reconstruction under conditions that keep Hamas disarmed. In parallel, Israel has signaled it will block reconstruction in Gaza at sites where remains are not returned, a move tied to the search efforts coordinated with international forensic and humanitarian bodies.

Within Israel, domestic politics continue to surface in the wake of the ceasefire. Some coalition figures, including elements of Religious Zionism, have pressed for stringent terms on Hamas’ disarmament and governance in Gaza, tying the stability of the ceasefire to broader security guarantees. Others have indicated support for remaining in government so long as the second phase proceeds with Hamas disarmed and rearmament pre

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Published on 3 weeks, 3 days ago