War in Israel: Update on Current Situation

October 9, 2025 - October 7 War, Day 734, 48 hostages remain in captivity

זה היום עשה ה' נגילה ונשמחה בו

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
(From the traditional Hallel prayer, said on festivals, including today, Sukkot)

• Agreement reached on a permanent end to the war in Gaza
• Ceasefire in place
• All hostages to be released in the coming days
• President Trump is likely to arrive on Saturday night
• The deal comes as Israelis mark two years since the tragedies of October 7, 2023.

Israel's President Isaac Herzog:

“This is a morning of historic and momentous news. I give my full support for the agreement reached in Egypt. I express my thanks to Prime Minister Netanyahu and the negotiating team, the mediators, and all those involved in this vital effort.

“I wish to extend my deepest thanks to President Donald Trump for his incredible leadership toward securing the release of the hostages, bringing an end to the war, and creating hope for a new reality in the Middle East. There is no doubt that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for this. Should he visit us in the coming days, he will be received with immense respect, affection, and gratitude by the people of Israel.

“This agreement will bring moments of indescribable relief to the dear families who have not slept for 733 days.

“This agreement offers a chance to mend, to heal, and to open a new horizon of hope for our region. This is a time to honor the heroes among us: our sons and daughters who fought bravely to bring the hostages home; the bereaved families; the wounded in body and spirit; and all who have paid an unbearable price for this historic and vital moment. “And they shall return from the land of the enemy… and children shall return to their own border.” With God’s help.

 “Am Yisrael Chai.”

See here for Jewish Federations of North America’s statement welcoming the agreement.

Historic Agreement Reached

• Israel and Hamas have agreed to a comprehensive end-of-war and hostage release deal, brokered by President Donald Trump, which is set to be signed in Egypt on Thursday afternoon.
• The agreement is based on Trump’s 20-point plan. Its main architects, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will arrive in Israel from Egypt later today.
• Israel’s security cabinet will meet this afternoon, followed by the full government, to vote on the prisoner release and a number of other aspects of the agreement, which are expected to easily pass.
• Following the government vote at 6 pm in Israel (11 am ET) the agreement will go into effect, halting all fighting and triggering the beginning of the 72-hour period during which all hostages must be released.
• In announcing the deal, President Trump wrote, “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America; and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”

The Agreement

• All hostages—both living and deceased—are to be released within 72 hours of the signing. It is understood that the 20 living hostages will return home to Israel by Monday at the latest (and possibly as early as Saturday). Hamas has agreed to release the hostages without the humiliating ceremonies it held with many of the previously released Israelis.
• Hamas has cautioned that it may take additional time to locate and return the 28 bodies of those hostages who are no longer alive. There is speculation that the location of eight or nine of those bodies is not currently known to Hamas.
• The IDF has completed preparations at Camp Re’im near the Gaza border to receive the hostages, including hygiene infrastructure and absorption teams. Numerous hospitals will be involved in receiving them; this will be the largest number of hostages slated to be returned in a single day.
• The deal also includes the full disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza, including the destruction of tunnels, weapons factories, and military infrastructure under international supervision.
• In addition, the sides have agreed to the removal of Hamas from power, with guarantees it will not be part of any future governing framework. The truce also provides for the deployment of an international stabilization force, backed by the US and Arab states, to secure borders in coordination with Egypt and Jordan.
• Under the agreement, Israel will maintain temporary security control of a security envelope until Gaza is declared “free of terror.” Later today, IDF forces will begin withdrawing from numerous Gazan population centers, but for now will continue to hold about half of the territory..
• The deal will also include the release of approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences (mainly for murdering Israelis) and at least 1,700 who were detained since October 7, among them women and minors. Israeli officials have indicated that the deal does not include members of Hamas’s Nukhba Force who took part in the October 7, 2023, massacre, nor the most prominent commanders described as “symbols of terrorist organizations,” such as Marwan Barghouti.
• Palestinian bodies will be returned at a ratio of 15:1 for each deceased hostage being held by Hamas.
• There will also be an amnesty for Hamas fighters who lay down arms or can be given safe passage to third countries.
• As soon as the deal begins, there will be immediate and large humanitarian aid efforts for Gaza, including the restoration of water, electricity, hospital support, and a US- and UN-backed economic development plan.
• Under the agreement, a Palestinian “technocratic” government will be formed, sidelining both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. This will avoid a power vacuum in Gaza.
• Further details about the agreement here.

International Diplomacy

• The deal has been endorsed by the US, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, all of whom played key roles in the negotiations.
• President Donald Trump will arrive in Israel on Saturday night, for a special, celebratory visit, and will likely address the Knesset.
• Iran, previously seen as a spoiler, has reportedly “blessed the deal.”
• The UN has pledged to scale up humanitarian aid and support Gaza’s reconstruction 

Reactions

• Large crowds gathered in Hostages Square overnight, celebrating the announcement. The Hostages Families Forum thanked President Trump and invited him to join them in Hostages Square on Sunday. Most Israelis have greeted news of the deal with jubilation and relief, though many remain concerned over the large number of Palestinian terrorists being released, as well as the uncertainty over whether Hamas has been effectively defanged.
• Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be brought home. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel. From the beginning, I made it clear: we will not rest until all our hostages return and all our goals are achieved. Through steadfast resolve, powerful military action, and the great efforts of our great friend and ally, President Trump, we have reached this critical turning point. I thank President Trump for his leadership, his partnership, and his unwavering commitment to the safety of Israel and the freedom of our hostages. God Bless Israel. God Bless America. God Bless our great alliance.”
• Some coalition members remain opposed to any deal that leaves Hamas intact. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he did not think the deal was good for Israel, calling the celebrations “short-sighted,” and said that he would vote against the agreement in Cabinet. Nonetheless, Israeli media speculated that he will not quit the government.
• Israel’s Opposition Leader Yair Lapid has offered Netanyahu a “political safety net” to ensure the deal’s implementation, meaning he will ensure that the government doesn’t fall over the deal, even if members of Netanyahu’s coalition leave. Lapid also called on the Nobel Committee to award the Peace Prize to President Trump.
• There has been outspoken and overwhelming praise in Israel for US President Trump, with political and other leaders from across the political spectrum thanking him for leading the effort to reach a deal.
• The agreement is being hailed internationally, with world leaders including the UN Secretary-General, Canadian Prime Minister, UK Prime Minister, and others praising the agreement and urging swift implementation.
• Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also welcomed the deal, expressing “hope that these efforts will serve as a prelude to achieving a sustainable political solution that will end the Israeli occupation and lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders.”
• The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange has seen dramatic gains since the deal was announced. The benchmark TA-125 index has gained 2.1 percent, marking the 38th time this year it has reached a new record high. The index has soared almost 35% from the start of the year over hopes that the war may be coming to an end. The shekel is also continuing to strengthen, appreciating some 0.8% against the US dollar and trading at NIS 3.254 to the US dollar, its strongest level since August 2022.

Further Reading

• Israel’s Hostages Come Home, But at What Price?
• The Long October
• The Day I Learned What Death Smells Like
• For Years, Iran Planned a Simultaneous Invasion of Israel – Only One Was Carried Out

For more information, please contact: Jewish Federations of North America’s Dani Wassner dani.wassner@jewishfederations.org. Subscribe to this weekly update here.