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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-13 at 15:06
HEADLINES
Twenty hostages freed after two-year captivity
Palestinian prisoners freed as four dead identified
Trump in Egypt for Gaza ceasefire talks
The time is now 11:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is the 11:00 a.m. update on the Israel-Gaza crisis and related regional developments.
All twenty living hostages released in two stages this morning are now back inside Israeli territory after more than two years in Hamas captivity. They were brought to safety at two locations inside Gaza before being flown by military helicopter to hospitals in central Israel for medical evaluation and care. The initial group arrived at the Re’im crossing and were reunited with their families, while a second group was transferred to Israeli forces nearby after the handover in the Gaza Strip’s southern Khan Younis area. Early assessments indicate many are pale and thin from months in captivity, but poised to begin rehabilitation alongside their loved ones. In the hours ahead, doctors will determine immediate needs for treatment and long‑term recovery.
In parallel, Israel’s government carried out the second part of the ceasefire exchange: the release of nearly two thousand Palestinian prisoners, including hundreds held for life terms. Israel says the decision adheres to the framework brokered by United States President Donald Trump, designed to facilitate the release of hostages in exchange for prisoners and to stabilize conditions in Gaza as a step toward broader humanitarian relief and political talks. Hamas publicly affirmed the release of the 20 living hostages but has indicated difficulty locating some of the remains of those killed, complicating the process for the families of the deceased. The four dead hostages slated for release on Monday were identified by Hamas as Guy Illouz, Yossi Sharabi, Bipin Joshi, and Daniel Perez, a development the Hostages and Missing Families Forum called a breach of the ceasefire agreement and urged immediate action to fulfill the complete terms of the arrangement.
From hospital rooms to public squares, the response in Israel has been emotionally acute. Tens of thousands gathered in Hostages Square in Jerusalem and in Tel Aviv’s streets to celebrate the return of the living hostages, many of whom spoke by video link with loved ones before the handover. Families spoke of relief, gratitude, but also renewed resolve not to lose sight of those still missing or remaining in Hamas custody. Israeli President Isaac Herzog, visiting survivors at a hospital, underscored the government’s intent to monitor enforcement of the agreement and to press for the return of all hostages and the remains of those killed. Officials in the prime minister’s office and the defense establishment said the state would respond firmly if Hamas fails to meet its commitments.
On the international stage, United States President Donald Trump arrived in Egypt for a Gaza ceasefire summit that drew attention from regional players and global capitals alike. In a speech to the Israeli parliament, the president referenced the end of the Gaza War and urged leaders to press ahead with the terms of the ceasefire, while at the same time drawing political attention to Netanyahu’s trial by suggesting a presidential pardon. The remarks drew varied reactions across Israel’s political spectrum, with some opposition voices urging restraint and respect for Israeli sovereignty in domestic legal processes, and some government allies welcoming the call as a measure to preserve national focus on security needs.
The summit backdrop included broader regional activity. The United Kingdom is set to host a three-day Gaza recovery summit in Sharm al‑Sheikh, engaging representatives from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the Palestinian Authority, among others, to discuss postwar reconstruction, humanitarian relief, and the politi
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