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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-13 at 13:07
HEADLINES
Seven Hostages Freed; Reunions Across Hospitals
Finalized 250 Palestinian Prisoner Release List
Arab Reactions Shape Gaza Ceasefire
The time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
The ceasefire brokered by the United States in Sharm el-Sheikh appears to be holding as Israel continues the staged return of hostages from Hamas captivity. In the first phase of release, seven hostages were brought to the line of handover, with families awaiting updates across hospital campuses and reception points. In the hours since the agreement took effect, social and official briefings have described an orderly process coordinated with mediators and the Red Cross.
The first group of released hostages included Alon Ohel, Gali and Ziv Berman, Matan Angrest, Eitan Mor, Omri Miran, and Guy Gilboa Dalal. In parallel, the Red Cross has taken custody of additional hostages as they move toward Israeli forces, with medical assessments and reunifications planned at receiving hospitals. Across the country, families have gathered at designated points, and television footage has captured moments of reunion, including Einav Tzangauker embracing her son Matan after more than two years apart. Medical teams report the returnees are generally in good condition despite the stress of captivity, and authorities say further updates will follow as handovers proceed.
On the broader stage of the deal, discussions have continued over the timing and scope of the second phase, including the eventual transfer of the 250 Palestinian prisoners designated for release under the Gaza ceasefire accord. Israeli officials have finalized the list of prisoners to be released, and mediators have stressed that the operation is designed to end a difficult chapter and to create a framework for stability in the weeks ahead. In Gaza, Palestinian officials and Hamas have publicly outlined the terms, while international observers stress that the full implementation of all components remains essential to the ceasefire’s durability.
Alongside the hostage releases, officials on both sides have described the return of the remains of four fallen as part of the broader understandings. Israel has signaled a commitment to enabling the return of bodies in parallel with the hostage handovers, a sensitive element of the agreement that has weighed heavily on families and communities.
In Jerusalem, the political and security calculus remains tightly linked to the outcome of the hostage deal. Israel’s leadership has underscored that the war aims—restoring security for civilians, dismantling Hamas’s grip on Gaza, and ensuring future deterrence—continue to inform every step of the process. The government has emphasized that cooperation with American partners remains central to pursuing security through a broad strategy that includes diplomacy, intelligence, and military preparedness as needed.
From Washington, the narrative surrounding the ceasefire reflects a posture of steady support for Israel’s security needs while maintaining a regional diplomacy that, in US officials’ words, seeks to reduce civilian suffering and restore a measure of stability to a volatile area. The tone from the White House and allied capitals stresses that peaceful coexistence with security guarantees is the priority, with military restraint as a complement to political and diplomatic pressure on Hamas.
In parallel, the public conversation in the United States and abroad has featured a striking moment in the relationships shaping the region. Ivanka Trump’s links to Israel—her conversion to Judaism before her marriage to Jared Kushner and her family's high-profile involvement in shaping US policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian issue—have been cited in coverage as a symbol of the deep personal ties that continue to influence political discourse in both capitals. T
Published on 3 weeks, 3 days ago