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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-13 at 17:08
HEADLINES
Twenty Hostages Freed as Gaza Ceasefire Progresses
Israel Frees 1,968 Palestinians From Prisons
Ceasefire Document Signed at Sharm El-Sheikh
The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good afternoon. Here is the hourly news update from the Middle East and related international developments as of 1:00 PM.
In Gaza and along the Israel-Hamas front, a set of significant exchanges and diplomatic moves unfolded today. Twenty living hostages were liberated and returned to Israel, while discussions continue about the fate of the remaining captives. Those released were transferred to Israeli custody and presented to families amid emotions that ranged from relief to renewed sorrow for loved ones who remain unaccounted for. Officials emphasized that not all hostages will return immediately, noting that the process is ongoing and Restorative steps are being pursued as part of a broader ceasefire framework.
Alongside the living hostages, authorities and aid agencies reported the transfer of two coffins containing the remains of hostages who had died in captivity. The Red Cross is coordinating the handoff, and the release of bodies is being discussed in the context of the broader ceasefire arrangements and the exchange of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
On the prisoner-release front, Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinians from its prisons, including hundreds of detainees serving life terms for deadly attacks. Specifically, 1,968 Palestinians were released, with a substantial portion transported to the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Among those released were a large share of security prisoners, including some convicted of serious offenses. In a parallel step, 154 of the Polish—deported to Egypt—were among the freed individuals, while thousands of Gazan detainees arrested during the war were released and transported. Hamas had sought to influence the final roster, and the list included complex negotiations over which individuals would be released or deported. Palestinian families expressed a mix of pain and relief as they watched loved ones come home, while some families of victims faced the difficult reality that not all who carried out attacks would be accounted for in this stage.
Meanwhile, the broader ceasefire framework is advancing in fits and starts. A document on the Gaza ceasefire deal was signed at the international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, with mediators Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey participating alongside US President Donald Trump. The signing, described by participants as a milestone toward ending the Gaza war, followed days of negotiations and public diplomacy aimed at sustaining a durable pause in fighting and enabling humanitarian relief and reconstruction efforts. US officials have underscored the importance of conditions related to Hamas’s disarmament and the return of hostages, while regional leaders have stressed security and reconstruction as essential elements of any long-term settlement.
In Washington and regional capitals, commentary and reaction reflected a mix of optimism and caution. Supporters of the ceasefire highlighted the potential for reduced violence, the chance to address humanitarian needs in Gaza, and the opportunity to stabilize the region. Critics, including some in Israel’s own political spectrum, warned that the terms of the deal must not reward violence or leave security threats unresolved. Across the aisle, leaders and lawmakers voiced a spectrum of opinions—from celebration of the hostages’ return to warnings that the broader war-weary public expects a credible plan to dismantle militant capabilities in Gaza and prevent a relapse into conflict.
Israeli politics and public discourse also turned toward the domestic implications of the ceasefire and hostage exchange. Several coalition figures welcomed the progress and the return
Published on 3 weeks, 3 days ago