Israeli captives in Gaza set to be exchanged on October 13
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Israeli captives are expected to be released from Gaza on October 13 in two stages, according to Israeli army radio Galei Tzahal, citing official sources.
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Displaced Palestinians walk amid destroyed buildings in al-Jalaa Street in Gaza City, Sunday, October 12, 2025 (AP)
The release of Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip is expected to take place on October 13, according to Israeli army radio Galei Tzahal, which cited military and government sources on Sunday.
The report said the process will unfold in two stages, beginning at 8:00 a.m. local time (05:00 GMT). The first stage will involve freeing captives from two separate locations, while a second stage involving a third location is expected to follow shortly after.
The anticipated release comes as part of the recently brokered ceasefire agreement between the Israeli occupation and Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza, which includes a prisoner exchange component and provisions for humanitarian aid access.
The arrangement marks one of the final steps in the ceasefire implementation process following weeks of indirect negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
JD Vance says release is soon
US Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday that the captives held in Gaza could be released “at any moment,” as Washington prepares for President Donald Trump’s trip to the Middle East to welcome them.
“It really should be any moment now,” Vance told NBC’s Meet the Press. “The president of the United States is planning to travel to the Middle East to greet the hostages Monday morning, Middle Eastern time, which should be late Sunday night or very early Monday morning here in the United States.”
Vance added that while the exact timing of the release remains uncertain, Washington expects it to happen soon. “You can’t say exactly the moment they will be released, but we have every expectation. That’s why the president is going, that he will be greeting the hostages early next week,” he said.
Vance stressed that the United States has no plans to deploy “boots on the ground” in Gaza or within the occupied Palestinian territories following reports that a US coordination mission will soon be set up in the occupied territories.
Over 200 US troops expected in “Israel”
A US official told The Jerusalem Post that roughly 200 American troops are expected to arrive to the occupied Palestinian territories in the coming days to establish a coordination center aimed at managing international efforts in Gaza.
According to the official, the personnel are expected to be in place by Sunday. The new center will serve as a hub for humanitarian coordination, logistical assistance, and communication among countries and organizations participating in Gaza’s reconstruction and stabilization efforts.
“The goal is to avoid chaos and ensure everyone can communicate effectively,” the official said, emphasizing that the mission is designed to improve coordination rather than introduce US combat involvement.
The official underscored that “there will be no American troops operating inside Gaza,” noting that while US aircraft may monitor developments from above to provide “situational awareness,” no soldiers would enter the enclave.
