Skip next section First bus carrying released Palestinian prisoners arrives in Gaza
10/13/2025October 13, 2025
First bus carrying released Palestinian prisoners arrives in Gaza
A bus carrying the first group of Palestinian prisoners released as part of a hostage-prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas has arrived in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office says.
Israel is expected to release more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel as part of the deal.
They include 250 prisoners serving life sentences and more than 1,700 Palestinians detained after the deadly Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023.
The release of the prisoners comes after 20 living Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip returned to Israel in two groups.
https://p.dw.com/p/51t51
Skip next section Second group of 13 living hostages reaches Israel — military
10/13/2025October 13, 2025
Second group of 13 living hostages reaches Israel — military
A group of 13 hostages, the second to be freed on Monday, has reached Israel, meaning that all 20 living hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip have now returned, the Israeli military has said.
In a statement, the IDF said the released hostages would soon be reunited with their families.
https://p.dw.com/p/51t4q
Skip next section Netanyahu to join Gaza summit in Egypt
10/13/2025October 13, 2025
Netanyahu to join Gaza summit in Egypt
Israeli Prime Minister will travel to the Gaza peace summit in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, after initial indications that he would not attend, several media outlets and Egypt’s presidency spokesperson have said.
Israel’s public broadcaster Kan also said that Netanyahu had held a phone call with Egyptian President , who is to chair the summit alongside his US counterpart, .
So far, Hamas has said it will not be sending representatives to the summit.
However, Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the internationally recognized West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, is expected to attend.
https://p.dw.com/p/51sub
Skip next section Israeli military says it has received second group of living hostages
10/13/2025October 13, 2025
Israeli military says it has received second group of living hostages
Israel’s military says 13 hostages released by Hamas are now on their way home to Israel accompanied by its forces.
It said they would receive an initial medical assessment upon their return.
A first group of seven hostages was released earlier on Monday as part of a hostage-prisoner exchange deal agreed by Israel and Hamas.
https://p.dw.com/p/51sh8
Skip next section German foreign minister speaks of ‘moment of joy’ at hostages’ release
10/13/2025October 13, 2025
German foreign minister speaks of ‘moment of joy’ at hostages’ release
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has welcomed the release of hostages held by Hamas while expressing sorrow that not all are returning alive.
“A moment of joy, but also a moment of trepidation, because of course we know that some are really only returning as dead bodies,” Wadephul told Deutschlandfunk radio.
“It’s very moving because there are also quite a few people among those released who have German citizenship.”
Hostages Rom Braslavski, 21, the twins Gali and Ziv Berman, 28, and Alon Ohel, 24, all have German nationality in addition to Israeli citizenship and are among the 20 hostages released on Monday.
https://p.dw.com/p/51sQa
Skip next section Trump tells reporters war is over ahead of speech to Israeli parliament
10/13/2025October 13, 2025
Trump tells reporters war is over ahead of speech to Israeli parliament
US President has hailed the release of hostages by the Palestinian militant group and the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
“This is a great day. This is a new beginning,” he told reporters as he arrived at the Israeli parliament ahead of a speech he was to hold there.
Trump also said Hamas would comply with a demand to disarm and said “yes” when asked whether the war was over.
Hamas said earlier it remained committed to the ceasefire agreement with Israel.
“We declare our commitment to the agreement and its associated timetables, as long as the occupation [Israel] adheres to them,” the group’s armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.
However, it remains uncertain whether the group is prepared to fully lay down its arms.
https://p.dw.com/p/51sch
Skip next section Israeli military says second hostage group in Red Cross custody
10/13/2025October 13, 2025
Israeli military says second hostage group in Red Cross custody
The Israeli military has cited the Red Cross as saying a second group of 13 hostages was in its custody after they were released by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the south of the Gaza Strip.
“According to information provided by the Red Cross, 13 hostages have been transferred into their custody and are on their way to IDF and ISA forces in Gaza,” the IDF wrote on X.
https://p.dw.com/p/51saP
Skip next section Remaining 13 living hostages handed to Red Cross, say Israeli media
10/13/2025October 13, 2025
Remaining 13 living hostages handed to Red Cross, say Israeli media
The 13 remaining living hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip have been freed and handed over to the Red Cross in the southern part of the Palestinian territory, Israeli media have reported.
Their reported release comes after a group of seven hostages was freed earlier on Monday.
https://p.dw.com/p/51sQ7
Skip next section More than 20 world leaders to attend Gaza peace summit in Egypt
10/13/2025October 13, 2025
More than 20 world leaders to attend Gaza peace summit in Egypt
Monday’s Gaza peace summit in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, to be chaired by US President and Egpytian President , will involve 21 nations, as well as the EU, Arab League and UN, Egypt has said.
Among those expected to attend are German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Canada will also be represented by Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The gathering aims “to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East and usher in a new era of regional security and stability,” the Egyptian president’s office said.
On Sunday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said a “document ending the war in the Gaza Strip” was expected to be signed during a gathering it described as “historic.”
However, neither of the two sides involved in the — Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas — will be represented at the summit.
https://p.dw.com/p/51sJQ
10/13/2025October 13, 2025
EU’s foreign affairs chief hails hostage release, announces restart of border control mission
The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has hailed the release by Hamas of a first group of seven hostages and credited US President with facilitating what she called a “breakthrough.”
“President Trump made this breakthrough possible,” she wrote on X.
She also wrote that the bloc would resume its monitoring mission at the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt
“Securing peace in Gaza will be extraordinarily complex,” Kallas wrote.
“The EU stands ready to do its part. On Wednesday, it will restart a civilian mission to monitor the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt.”
https://p.dw.com/p/51sNh
Skip next section International backing seen as key to safeguarding Gaza peace deal
10/13/2025October 13, 2025
International backing seen as key to safeguarding Gaza peace deal
As Israel and Hamas begin implementing the new ceasefire and , attention is turning to how the fragile deal can be sustained amid political tensions.
John Lyndon, executive director of the Alliance for Middle East Peace, told DW last week that while the agreement marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough, its long-term success will depend on steady international engagement.
Lyndon said there were elements within the Israeli government who remain skeptical of the process, with some right-wing ministers maintaining a more hardline stance.
“This is why we have to make sure that the international community wrap their arms around the deal and essentially make it an offer that cannot be refused by Prime Minister Netanyahu.”
He said continued coordination among Washington, regional partners and multilateral institutions would be essential to maintain momentum and prevent renewed escalation.
“This can’t be an elite-driven, top-down process. It needs to bring millions of Israelis and Palestinians along with that process and isolate the extremists. They are a minority in both societies. They will want to disrupt any process,” Lyndon said.
https://p.dw.com/p/51sI8
Skip next section Red Cross underway to southern Gaza for hostage release
10/13/2025October 13, 2025
Red Cross underway to southern Gaza for hostage release
The Israeli military says a Red Cross convoy is on its way to southern Gaza to receive a second group of hostages.
A first group of seven hostages was released earlier in the day in Gaza City in the north of the Palestinian territory and is now reportedly in Israel.
Altogether 20 living hostages are expected to be released by Hamas on Monday in the first phase of a US-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal.
https://p.dw.com/p/51sIB
Skip next section Trump lands in Israel
10/13/2025October 13, 2025
Trump lands in Israel
US President aboard the presidential aircraft Air Force One has flown over Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, where tens of thousands have been celebrating the release of a first group of seven hostages, before landing at Ben-Gurion International Airport.
Trump was met by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog on arrival.
Trump is to meet with families of hostages and address the Israeli parliament before travelling on to Egypt for a peace summit he will chair together with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.
The US president has said the ceasefire and hostage deal Washington brokered between Israel and Hamas has effectively ended the
https://p.dw.com/p/51sDo
Skip next section Israel rejoices as hostages released
10/13/2025October 13, 2025
Israel rejoices as hostages released
News of the release of the first seven hostages has been greeted with wild cheering in Israel.
Tens of thousands are watching the transfers at public screenings across the country, with a major event being held in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square.
The seven hostages were reportedly released in Gaza City in the north of the Gaza Strip.
The Arabic-language news network Al Jazeera has said the second group of living hostages is to be freed at 10 a.m. (O700 GMT) in southern Gaza.
https://p.dw.com/p/51s1d
Skip next section Hostages have crossed into Israel — military
10/13/2025October 13, 2025
Hostages have crossed into Israel — military
The seven hostages freed on Monday from the Gaza Strip have now entered Israel, the Israeli military says.
https://p.dw.com/p/51sBe
The post All living hostages return to Israel, Trump to give speech appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
