Live: Israel dropped 153 tonnes of bombs on Gaza on Sunday

President Trump on Monday arrived in Israel, with live footage showing Air Force One landing at the Ben Gurion airport. A video shared on social media showing the US president's interaction with journalists before his departure shows Trump responding to questions about "Hamas rearming itself as a police force".

"They’re doing it because they want to stop the problems, and they have been open about it, and we gave them approval for a period of time," Trump said. 

"You have to understand, they lost probably 60,000 people, that's a lot of retribution. The ones who are living right now were, in many cases, very young when all this started," he added. 

"We asked them to monitor the situation to ensure there won’t be major crimes or issues in such circumstances. We want the situation to be safe," he said. 

Trump's brief visit to Israel includes an address to the Knesset, before departing for Egypt, where he will co-chair an international summit aimed at ending the war in Gaza. 

Since early Monday morning, dozens of Palestinian families have gathered outside Ofer Prison near Ramallah, awaiting the release of their loved ones as part of the ongoing prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel.

Despite the hopeful atmosphere, the Israeli military has dropped warning leaflets over the area using drones, urging those present to disperse and avoid approaching the prison. Heavy military reinforcements have also been deployed around the Ofer military base, heightening tensions on the ground.

Families remain defiant, with hundreds more waiting in central Ramallah, where buses carrying released prisoners are expected to arrive.

Among those waiting outside the prison is the family of Anan Shalabi, a prisoner from Nablus who has spent 25 years in Israeli detention and is serving a life sentence. His sister shared the family’s mixed emotions ahead of his expected release.

“Our feelings are mixed - happiness at his freedom, but deep sadness that our mother passed away before she could see her beloved son,” she told Middle East Eye reporter Mohammed Nazzal.

“She waited for him every day and always said she would see him before she died, but she passed away a year and a half ago after falling ill.”

Despite their grief, the family is preparing to welcome Anan home with a low-key celebration.

Over the weekend, Israeli forces raided the homes of several prisoners’ families across the occupied West Bank, warning them against holding any form of celebrations.

“We thank God above all,” Anan’s sister said. “We will hold a modest celebration, marry him off, and pray he finally gets to see his children. We just want to hold him, rejoice with him, and start a new chapter.”

President Trump on Monday arrived in Israel, with live footage showing Air Force One landing at the Ben Gurion airport.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared a photo of Trump watching the livestream of Israeli captives being released from Gaza while flying to Israel aboard Air Force One. 

Leavitt shared a photo of the moment on social media, calling it “history in the making”.

Trump's brief visit to Israel includes an address to the Knesset, before departing for Egypt, where he will co-chair an international summit aimed at ending the war in Gaza. 

Thousands of Israelis gathered in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv to watch the release of the captives.

Middle East Eye contributor Nadav Rapaport, reporting from the scene, said the square erupted in excitement and loud applause when it was announced that the seven captives released by Hamas at around 8am had been handed over to Israeli military forces by the Red Cross.

Many in the crowd waved Israeli flags and held up pictures of the captives.

A further 13 captives are set to be released imminently.

Hamas began releasing living Israeli captives on Monday as part of a deal to end the war on Gaza and facilitate a prisoner exchange.

Seven of the 20 Israeli captives held in Gaza were handed over to the International Red Cross at 8am local time (5am GMT), and were later transferred to the Israeli military.

A further thirteen captives are expected to be released by 10am local time (7am GMT).

Meanwhile, Israeli authorities have begun preparations for the release of 1,966 Palestinian prisoners as part of the agreement.

According to Reuters, the Palestinian detainees have boarded buses ahead of their release to the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Some will be expelled from Palestine altogether, initially transferred to Egypt before relocating to other destinations at a later stage.

The group includes 250 people serving long or life sentences, and approximately 1,718 individuals who were kidnapped from the Gaza Strip over the past two years.

The list does not include high-profile Palestinian figures whose release was requested by Hamas but rejected by Israel.

Read more: Hamas begins releasing Israeli captives as part of Gaza ceasefire deal

Hamas has allowed some captives to make video calls to their families in Israel ahead of their imminent release from Gaza.

Footage shared by Israeli media showed captives Matan Zangauker, Nimrod Cohen, and David and Ariel Cunio speaking with their families via video call.

עינב צנגאוקר ואילנה גריצווסקי בשיחת וידאו עם מתן, היום pic.twitter.com/pTVsmZ63D8

— הארץ חדשות (@haaretznewsvid) October 13, 2025

The Palestinian Red Crescent on Monday said that its crew entered the Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank to evacuate a sick prisoner scheduled for release, Al Jazeera Arabic reported. 

Israeli authorities are also set to release 1,966 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving long or life sentences, and approximately 1,700 individuals who were detained from the Gaza Strip over the past two years.

Hamas also began releasing living Israeli captives on Monday as part of a deal to end the war in Gaza and facilitate a prisoner exchange.

Hamas's al-Qassam Brigades handed over seven Israeli captives to the International Red Cross in Gaza. Israeli media confirmed that the military has received the seven captives. 

A further thirteen captives are expected to be released within the next few hours.

US President Donald Trump watched the livestream of Israeli captives being released from Gaza while flying to Israel aboard Air Force One, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Leavitt shared a photo of the moment on social media, calling it “history in the making.”

Trump is expected to land in Israel for a brief visit that includes an address to the Knesset, before departing for Egypt, where he will co-chair an international summit aimed at ending the war in Gaza. 

President Trump watching from Air force one the hostage handover.

As shared by @PressSec on @instagram pic.twitter.com/veRcybTYhR

— White House News (@whnews47) October 13, 2025

Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas on Monday said that the organisation has made every effort to protect the Israeli captives, while the "enemy commits the most heinous crimes against our prisoners".

In a statement, Hamas said, "The occupation failed to free its prisoners by force and was forced to submit to the conditions of the resistance and the exchange deal."

"We made every effort to protect the occupation's prisoners while the enemy committed the most heinous crimes against our prisoners. The prisoners' issue will remain our top priority until the last prisoner is released from the occupation's prisons," the statement added. 

All 1,966 Palestinian detainees set to be released from the Israeli prison have boarded buses, officials involved in the operation told Reuters on Monday. 

Israeli authorities are also set to release the Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving long or life sentences, and approximately 1,700 individuals who were detained from the Gaza Strip over the past two years.

Hamas also began releasing living Israeli captives on Monday as part of a deal to end the war in Gaza and facilitate a prisoner exchange.

According to Al Jazeera, the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, handed over seven living Israeli captives to the International Red Cross in Gaza.

Israeli media confirmed that the military has received the seven captives. 

A further thirteen captives are expected to be released within the next two hours.

Hamas on Monday began releasing living Israeli captives as part of a deal to end the war in Gaza and facilitate a prisoner exchange.

The al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, handed over seven living Israeli captives to the International Red Cross in Gaza.

Israeli media confirmed that the military has received the seven captives. 

Israel Today identified the captives as Matan Engerst, Gali and Ziv Berman, Alon Ohel, Eitan Mor, Guy Gilboa Dalal and Omri Miran. 

A further thirteen captives are expected to be released within the next two hours.

Israeli media on Monday morning reported that the list of Palestinian prisoners approved by the government includes Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, who will be released only "if the number of those released is not completed". 

However, Israeli officials made changes to the list of Palestinian prisoners set to be released, with 1,718 Palestinian prisoners to be freed now, instead of the previously agreed-upon 1,722.

Al Jazeera quoted Hamas as saying that Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat are off the list of prisoners to be released.

Israeli media have also reported that "the government has approved the creation of a reserve list of five prisoners from Gaza, who will be released if changes are made."

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) arrived in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza on Monday in preparation for the swap of Israeli and Palestinian prisoners.

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority also confirmed that ICRC vehicles are on their way to receive the Israeli prisoners who will be released in the Gaza Strip today.

Hamas's Qassam Brigades on Monday published the names of 20 surviving Israeli captives to be freed and is expected to hand over the last living captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners before the international summit in Egypt. 

"As part of the [ceasefire and] prisoner exchange agreement, the al-Qassam Brigades have decided to release the following Zionist prisoners alive," said a statement from the armed group. 

According to the list, the captives set to be released today include Elkana Bohbot, Matan Angrest, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Haim Ohana, Alon Ohel, Evyatar Davud, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Rom Braslavski, and twins Gali and Ziv Berman.

They also include Eitan Mor, Segev Kalfon,  Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn, Bar Kupershtein, Omri Miran, and brothers David Cunio and Ariel Cunio.

Israeli soldiers Nimrod Cohen and Matan Zangauker are also on the list.

Good morning Middle East Eye readers, here are the latest updates:

• Hamas has published the names of 20 surviving Israeli captives to be freed and is expected to hand over the last living captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners before the international summit in Egypt. 

• International Committee of the Red Cross has arrived in central Gaza in preparation for the swap of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners.

• Israeli media have reported that the list of Palestinian prisoners approved by the government includes Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, who will be released only "if the number of those released is not completed". 

• Israel has made changes to the list of Palestinian prisoners set to be released, with 1,718 Palestinian prisoners to be freed now, instead of the previously agreed-upon 1,722.

• Israel will present the country's highest civilian award to US President Donald Trump for his role in "helping to end the war".

• Indonesian President's office has confirmed that he will travel to Egypt to attend the world leaders’ summit aimed at ending the war in Gaza.

• Ocha on Monday said it had made tangible progress and that it would expand its operations throughout the Gaza Strip.