Israel at War Day 734 October 09, 2025Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeOctober 09, 2025UpdatesOctober 10, 2025Trump's achievement brings U.S. Jews together, puts Democrats on the back foot | AnalysisUnited States and Israel flags are projected on the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem in celebration after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza, Thursday night. Credit: Sinan Abu Mayzer/ReutersUnited States and Israel flags are projected on the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem in celebration after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza, Thursday night. Credit: Sinan Abu Mayzer/ReutersU.S. President Donald Trump's securing of a cease-fire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, seemingly bringing the two-year Gaza war to an end, is perhaps his greatest diplomatic achievement as president, even if it isn't an all-encompassing "Middle East peace" as he presents it.The White House has leaned heavily into the moment, sharing videos of Israelis and Palestinians chanting Trump's name and of hostage families hailing him as an unparalleled peacemaker. Should Trump address the Knesset or Hostage Square on Sunday, as currently planned, the celebratory atmosphere will only intensify.Even Trump's fiercest Democratic foes in Washington – including Sens. Adam Schiff and Mark Warner – publicly welcomed the agreement. Democratic leadership, however, mired in bitter shutdown negotiations with Trump, has been less eager to heap praise on him.Democrats now face a delicate balancing act.To read the full analysis, click herePartial list of Palestinian prisoners' names published ahead of hostage swapThe identities of the Palestinian prisoners set to be released in the Israel-Hamas prisoner and hostage deal are mostly unknown, as the Justice Ministry is facing technical issues on its website.Some names, however, have been revealed: Baher Badr, who carried out a terror attack on the Tzrifin IDF base and was sentenced to 11 life sentences; Ibrahim Alkam, who shot and killed Ita Tzur and her 12-year-old son Ephraim while they were driving in the West Bank in December 1996; and Iham Kamamji, who kidnapped and murdered Eliyahu Oshri, 16, while he was hitchhiking. October 10, 2025U.S. to send 200 troops to Israel to monitor Gaza cease-fire dealThe United States is sending about 200 troops to Israel to help support and monitor the cease-fire deal in Gaza as part of a team that includes partner nations, nongovernmental organizations and private sector players, U.S. officials said Thursday.However, senior U.S. officials told Haaretz on Thursday night that U.S. troops would not enter Gaza.The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not authorized for release, said U.S. Central Command is going to establish a "civil-military coordination center" in Israel that will help facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid as well as logistical and security assistance into the territory wracked by two years of war.The remarks provide some of the first details on how the cease-fire deal would be monitored and that the U.S. military would have a role in that effort. After Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a Trump administration plan to halt the fighting, a litany of questions remain on next steps, including Hamas disarmament, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a future government in the territory.Israel's government approves Gaza cease-fire deal, Prime Minister Netanyahu saysThe Israeli government agreed Thursday night to the first phase of a deal to end the war in the Gaza Strip and secure the release of hostages, the Prime Minister's Office said. The cease-fire is set to begin immediately after the approval, according to drafts of the plan. Hamas' leadership has not yet released a statement confirming its approval of the American plan.U.S. President Donald Trump, who led the effort to finalize the agreement, has said the deal will lead to "all of the hostages [being] released on Monday or Tuesday, and Israel will withdraw their troops to an agreed-upon line." He has also said he would arrive in Israel next week, and that a signing ceremony would take place in Egypt.Click here for the full, developing storyTrump wants Gaza to have a gov't but not a military, U.S. officials sayU.S. President Trump wants Gaza to have a government but not a military force, a senior American official told Haaretz. Breakthroughs between Israel and Hamas began on Wednesday night after a few days of international cooperation between the U.S., Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt, another senior official added. But countries have not yet pledged funds for Gaza's reconstruction as no such plan has been approved, the officials said.Arab countries have guaranteed Hamas' disarmament, they added. Turkey, Qatar and other countries will regulate Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip. U.S. forces will not enter the Strip, they said. Netanyahu meets with envoy Witkoff and KushnerPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Jerusalem with U.S. envoy Steven Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, following the end of the security cabinet meeting.Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer also attended the meeting.Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister Ron Dermer meet in Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem earlier this month. Credit: Maayan Toaf/GPOJared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister Ron Dermer meet in Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem earlier this month. Credit: Maayan Toaf/GPOLishay Miran Lavi. wife of hostage Omri: I'm coming from U.S. hoping to return to my loveLishay Miran Lavi, wife of Omri, who is still held in Gaza, said that she is en route from the United States to Israel and her family, "with a heart full of hope, for the love of my life – the one I have been waiting for and have been fighting for his freedom for two years.""My Omri, just a little longer and you'll be back with us," she added.Her words were posted on Facebook by the Kibbutz Nahal Oz account, in both Hebrew and English.In the NewsCan Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza Force Its Plan on Hamas and Israel?Source: FIFA to Meet Iranian Soccer Officials to Discuss World Cup on SaturdayIDF Soldier Filmed Pointing Weapon at Chest of Palestinian Who Posed No ThreatTop Hamas Military Chief Killed in IDF Gaza Strikes, Hamas Official and IDF SayU.S. Suspends Sanctions Against UN Investigator Francesca AlbaneseRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIThe Hasidic Jews Behind Florida's Giant Golden Trump StatueStarlink Users, Beware – Israeli Tech Can Reveal Your IdentityIt Wasn't Just Revenge That Israel Was After in GazaIsraeli Artists Slam Venice Biennale Participation: 'Again, Israel as a Victim'Trump Collides With Reality in Latest Iran StandoffIsraeli Teens Storm Muslim Quarter in Old City, Haaretz Reporter Attacked