Podcast Episode Details

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-13 at 16:05

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HEADLINES
- All 20 hostages freed in two-stage swap
- Hamas to release 28 remains, breach concerns
- Sharm el-Sheikh summit advances Middle East security

The time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Day 738 of the Gaza war, and a day of emotional milestones and important security and policy signals for the region. All 20 living Israeli hostages have been returned to Israeli territory after more than two years in Hamas captivity, in a two-stage exchange that is central to the current ceasefire framework brokered with US mediation and regional partners. Seven hostages were released in the morning and handed to Israeli forces inside Gaza, followed by the remaining thirteen later, with initial medical evaluations conducted at the Re’im base before transfer to hospitals in central Israel for treatment and rehabilitation. Early medical assessments indicate significant weight loss among the freed captives, a consequence of the extreme conditions they endured; doctors say the freed hostages will receive comprehensive care, including ongoing medical monitoring, psychological support, and nutrition guidance, as part of their recovery.

Hamas has indicated it will release the remains of 28 slain hostages, with four bodies identified for transfer on Monday. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum described that step as a breach of the ceasefire agreement and urged mediators to insist that Hamas fulfill the full terms, including the return of all remains. The international mediation effort remains focused on ensuring that every living hostage, and every fallen hostage, are accounted for, and on holding all parties to their commitments under the deal.

Inside Israel, leaders reacted in a range of tones. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition partners and several far-right lawmakers voiced objections to the terms of the exchange, arguing that the deal could invite risk by freeing Palestinian prisoners. Other government and opposition figures welcomed the return as a humanitarian and strategic achievement, while cautioning that the larger war demands continued focus on security and the fate of any others who remain captive. President Isaac Herzog underscored the government’s responsibility to monitor for any potential violations of the agreement and to pursue every effort to bring home all hostages, including those who have died, in cooperation with the United States and other partners. He also signaled that the nation would not lose sight of the broader security and political dimensions as reconstruction begins in Gaza.

Internationally, the Gaza ceasefire event drew broad attention. United States President Donald Trump traveled to Egypt to join Israeli and regional leaders at a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, where Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi urged a steadfast push for the return of all remains and resolution of the war’s humanitarian dimension. In remarks around the summit, Sisi framed the effort as part of a regional security architecture aimed at stabilizing the Middle East and preventing a relapse into wider conflict. Shortly before Trump’s arrival, reports of a large explosion near Cairo were attributed by Egyptian officials to quarry activity, a reminder of the fragile security climate in which such talks are taking place.

In the corporate of regional science and culture, Nobel economist Joel Mokyr—an Israeli-American born in the Netherlands and educated at Hebrew University before a long career in the United States—was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for work on innovation-driven growth, highlighting the enduring links between Israeli scholarship and global economics. In other diplomatic developments, Turkish President Erdogan’s movements drew attention as regional leaders prepared for the Sharm el-Sheikh discussions, with itinerary changes reported at various points as events

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Published on 3 weeks, 3 days ago