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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-13 at 04:05
HEADLINES
Eight and ten hostages to be released
IDF fortifies Gaza border as ceasefire holds
Trump to receive Israel Presidential Medal
The time is now 12:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is the hourly update. Here are the latest developments on the Israel Hamas ceasefire, regional dynamics, and related stories shaping the region tonight.
The United States brokered ceasefire that was announced in Sharm el-Sheikh remains the framework for a staged hostage release. Israeli media report that Hamas informed the Red Cross the operation will begin at eight o’clock in the morning, with a second round expected around ten o’clock. A technical meeting between Hamas and the Red Cross team was said to have taken place overnight to finalize transfer arrangements. Gazans have been instructed not to post details about the handover, with authorities warning that sharing operational information could pose a security risk.
On the Israeli side, defense forces have shifted to a defensive posture as talks about a postwar arrangement proceed. IDF units are fortifying positions near the Gaza border, and under current rules, forces may fire only to repel threats or when armed Hamas operatives approach. The movement reflects concern that, even with a ceasefire, Hamas could attempt to preserve influence or regain strength in the stay-behind network. Reports indicate Hamas has repositioned thousands of operatives as the IDF concentrates on defense during the ceasefire period.
The human dimension remains front and center. Families of hostages are preparing for the two release rounds, with relatives traveling toward designated gathering points. In the center of Gaza, Red Cross convoys and hospital teams are coordinating with Israeli authorities to receive captives in the wake of the handover. In Israel, health officials warn that many returning victims are severely malnourished and at risk of refeeding complications, prompting hospital readiness for intensive care and nutritional support as captives come back home.
International and political currents echo across the region. President Isaac Herzog is expected to inform United States President Donald Trump that he will award him Israel’s Presidential Medal of Honor, recognizing Trump’s role in brokering the Gaza ceasefire and aiding the release of hostages. The gesture underscores the close alignment between Washington and Jerusalem on security and regional peace efforts. Trump’s visit to Israel looms large for observers monitoring how the postwar framework may unfold, with Trump’s presence in the region intertwining US domestic and Middle East dimensions.
In other geopolitical notes, a prominent public defense line in Kyiv tied to the Gaza ceasefire drew comment: Zelensky later suggested that Trump could resolve the Ukraine-Russia conflict with a Gaza-style deal, a remark that reflects how regional diplomacy is increasingly viewed through a wider lens. The comment was made amid broader discussion of how ceasefire models might influence other conflicts, even as Russia continued to press its attacks elsewhere.
Domestically, a separate security incident in Tel Aviv drew attention. A burned body of a woman was found in a public garden near Yigal Alon and Yitzhak Sade streets, triggering a police investigation. A suspect, a 47-year-old local resident, was arrested and is being questioned as investigators determine whether the crime relates to a broader pattern or a targeted act.
On the ground in Gaza, a steady stream of humanitarian activity accompanied by security caution continued. Red Cross buses and observers prepared for the exchange at Ofer prison, with other vehicles moving toward Kerem Shalom and Deir al-Balah for the handover of detainees. Reports from multiple outlets indicate that the handover of prisoners will be coordinated f
Published on 3 weeks, 3 days ago