"Hamas to Release 20 Israeli Hostages on the Morning of the 13th"

WSJ: "Hamas Officially Confirms for the First Time That 20 Hostages Are Alive"

Palestinian militant group Hamas is reportedly set to release 20 Israeli hostages on the morning of October 13 (local time), in accordance with the ceasefire agreement with Israel.

AP Yonhap News

On October 12, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing multiple sources, reported that Hamas conveyed this position through Arab mediators. The outlet noted that this is the first time Hamas has officially confirmed the survival of 20 Israeli hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated later that day, "Israel is ready to welcome the immediate return of all our hostages."

Israel currently estimates that there are 20 surviving hostages and the bodies of approximately 28 individuals inside the Gaza Strip.

It has also been reported that a multinational task force (TF), including the United States, T?rkiye, Qatar, and Egypt, will be formed to recover the bodies of the hostages.

As part of this ceasefire agreement, preparations are also underway to deliver large-scale humanitarian aid supplies to the Gaza Strip on October 12.

Hamas's decision to release the hostages is the result of the first phase of the "Gaza Peace Initiative," which was dramatically agreed upon by Israel and Hamas on October 8, marking two years since the outbreak of the Gaza war and including provisions for troop withdrawal and hostage release.

This agreement is being hailed as the outcome of U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to end the war. President Trump is scheduled to visit Egypt on October 13 to host a summit for Gaza peace and officially declare the end of the war. Numerous European leaders, including United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, are also expected to attend.