HEADLINES
Two stage hostage release with Red Cross
Hospitals brace for released hostages medical needs
Trump frames ceasefire turning point

The time is now 1:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is a live update on a day many believed would redefine the terms of violence and relief in Gaza. The central event remains the two stage release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, a carefully choreographed operation conducted in coordination with the International Red Cross and under the watchful eye of United States mediation tied to President Trump’s public diplomacy and the Israeli security team. Hamas has published a list identifying twenty Israeli hostages to be freed in the first phase, with a second phase following shortly thereafter. Among those named for release in the first wave are Eitan Mor, Gali and Ziv Berman, Matan Angrest, Omri Miran and Alon Ohel, according to Hamas’ disclosures. The release is expected in two waves, beginning around eight o’clock in the morning and continuing at roughly ten o’clock, with observers and family members preparing for reunions at the designated handover points.

Intertwined with the hostage handover is the movement and coordination of aid and security. The Red Cross has been directing vehicles toward a rendezvous point in northern Gaza to receive the captives and transfer them into Israeli care, while the Israeli military indicates it remains ready to absorb additional captives as they are handed over. Medical authorities have prepared for the welfare needs of the returning hostages, who health officials say have suffered significant malnutrition and are at risk of refeeding complications once they receive nutrition. In the meantime, Israeli hospital officials and the Health Ministry are standing by to treat injuries and combat the risks associated with long periods of deprivation, while Magen David Adom says it has bolstered its medical teams to handle the expected surge of patients and accompanying medical events.

On the security and political front, the Israeli Defense Forces say they are prepared to receive the hostages and to process the handover in a controlled manner. Israel’s leaders, including Prime Minister Netanyahu and the President of Israel, have underscored a stance of defense paired with deliberate diplomacy. The families of the released hostages and the public are gathering around distribution points and public squares, united in the moment’s gravity and the hope of a peaceful return for those who have been away for years. The internal dialogue within Israel continues to stress the legitimacy of using force to protect citizens and to secure the return of hostages, balanced with the desire to prevent a relapse into broader conflict.

Internationally, the day has carried with it the sense that a broader regional dynamic is shifting. President Trump, during a flight en route to Israel, publicly framed the moment as a turning point, saying the war is over and that the ceasefire will hold, a statement echoing the administration’s effort to broker a peace through a plan built on strength and deterrence. Trump has spoken of broad popular support observed in Israel for the deal, and his administration has signaled its continued involvement in monitoring the ceasefire’s early implementation. In Israel, President Isaac Herzog is slated to present Trump with the nation’s highest civilian honor in recognition of his role, while other leading foreign policy voices have publicly praised the move toward a two-stage release.

Within the security and intelligence community, a note of caution remains. Reports from different sources indicate that a group of senior Hamas leaders, specifically six high-profile figures, will not be released in this first phase, with ongoing deliberations over which prisoners may be exchanged and how. The Israeli military has confirmed that Red Cross delegates are coordinating at a northern Gaza meeting point, and that additional hostages could be moved to the Red Cross for transfer as the process progresses. In parallel, Israeli observers and some regional outlets have noted that Hamas has repositioned thousands of operatives in Gaza as the ceasefire takes hold, a shift analysts say could influence the security calculus as IDF forces adopt a defense-focused posture near the border while talks on a postwar framework continue.

On the humanitarian and international front, the day’s developments carry potential ramifications for Iran’s proxy networks and the broader regional balance. Analysts are watching for how the ceasefire and hostage release might recalibrate the influence and posture of Iran-aligned groups across the region, as well as related diplomatic traffic among regional players and Tehran’s partners. The day’s events also offer a vivid reminder that the hostage issue remains a sensitive barometer of trust and leverage between Israel, Gaza’s factions, and external actors.

In summary, the day centers on a historic, tightly coordinated handover of hostages, supported by the Red Cross and medical teams on the ground, and elevated by a US administration position that frames the moment as a turning point for peace through strength. The hostages’ families, the Israeli public, and international observers alike are watching closely for any signs of progress or relapse as the two-stage releases unfold and as Israel seeks to secure quiet on its borders while renewing the prospect of a durable, if fragile, ceasefire. We will continue to bring you updates as events develop and as more details emerge about each stage of the operation and its broader regional implications.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-870292
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-870291
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-870290
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-870275
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-870289
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-870273
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-870287
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-870288
https://t.me/newssil/174407
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1240997
https://t.me/newssil/174406
https://t.me/newssil/174405
https://t.me/newssil/174404
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1240994
https://t.me/newssil/174403
https://t.me/newssil/174402
https://t.me/newssil/174401
https://t.me/newssil/174400
https://t.me/newssil/174399
https://t.me/newssil/174398
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-870286
https://t.me/newssil/174397
https://www.al-monitor.com/__%3C%21--%20THEME%20DEBUG%20--%3E_%3C%21--%20THEME%20HOOK%3A%20%27views_view_field%27%20--%3E_%3C%21--%20BEGIN%20OUTPUT%20from%20%27core/themes/stable9/templates/views/views-view-field.html.twig%27%20--%3E_/originals/2025/10/hamas-publishes-names-20-israeli-hostages-be-released_%3C%21--%20END%20OUTPUT%20from%20%27core/themes/stable9/templates/views/views-view-field.html.twig%27%20--%3E__
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bkktmy9age
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1240992
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1240991
https://t.me/newssil/174395