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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-13 at 21:05
HEADLINES
Gaza ceasefire frays as 32 die
Four hostages' bodies handed over, 24 killed
Trump frames Sharm as Gaza turning point
The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good evening. At five o’clock, we begin with the evolving picture from Gaza and the wider diplomacy shaping the region.
Hamas has carried out a wave of killings in Gaza since the ceasefire began, with Israeli officials reporting at least 32 dead. The toll underscores the fragility of a pause in fighting and the continuing security challenges on the ground.
Under the ceasefire exchange, Hamas handed over the bodies of four hostages— Bipin Joshi, Captain Daniel Peretz, Yossi Sharabi and Guy Iluz— while Israel said 24 hostages believed to have been killed remain in Gaza as part of the dispute over the terms of the deal. The handover of the four bodies was accompanied by emotional scenes as families awaited news and officials began the process of identification and accounting.
In Khan Yunis, several thousand Palestinians gathered around Nasser Hospital to welcome freed prisoners arriving under the agreement, reflecting the complex mix of relief and celebration alongside ongoing hardship and concern inside Gaza.
On the Israeli side, security and medical authorities prepared for ongoing identifications and the handling of remains, as four coffins were moved to the national forensic institute for confirmation of identity and cause of death. Reunions continued to unfold, including Avinatan Or and Noa Argamani rediscovering each other after years apart, a moment captured in images and memories shared by families and communities.
In the security arena, Israeli forces reported the killing of a Hamas operative in Khan Yunis as part of ongoing operations to counter violent activity after the ceasefire announcement. The broader security landscape remains unsettled, with sporadic clashes and continued Israeli activity in southern Gaza and adjacent areas.
Diplomatically, the Sharm el-Sheikh summit brought together US and international leaders focused on Gaza’s future. President Donald Trump framed the gathering as a turning point, urging additional nations to join the Abraham Accords as the cornerstone of regional stability. He highlighted the release of hostages and the start of a broader peace process, while noting that more work lies ahead to finalize the framework for Gaza’s future. Earlier in the day, he met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, with Emmanuel Macron accompanying Abbas to the podium for a brief encounter with Trump. Netanyahu did not attend the summit, a decision attributed to the proximity to a Jewish holiday and, according to some reports, domestic political considerations.
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto’s reported plans to visit Israel drew attention, though his government later denied that any visit was scheduled. A document signed at the event was described by Trump as laying the groundwork for Gaza’s future, though a public copy was not released.
Elsewhere in Europe, the European Broadcasting Union canceled a vote related to Israel’s participation in Eurovision in the wake of the ceasefire developments, leaving Israel’s status for future contests unresolved and underscoring the ongoing political sensitivities surrounding cultural events tied to the region.
Back home, civilian incidents reminded audiences that danger remains close to daily life: a road crash near Afula left a five-year-old in critical condition and a 41-year-old woman in moderate condition, with EMS transporting them to hospital. Meanwhile, authorities continued to advance the formal procedures surrounding the four hostage coffins and the broader investigation into the circumstances of each case.
Health and human stories continued to frame the day’s narra
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