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Rivka, the wife of Elkana Buchbut, published documentation from the preparations for his return.

Prime Minister Netanyahu in a statement to the media: “Citizens of Israel, my brothers and sisters. This is an exciting evening. An evening of tears, an evening of joy. For tomorrow, sons will return to their borders. This is a historic event that combines sorrow over the release of murderers – and joy over the return of hostages….”

President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Israel on Monday, October 13, for a tightly scheduled visit expected to last just a few hours.

According to the official itinerary, the visit will begin at 9:20 a.m., when President Trump will be greeted at Ben-Gurion International Airport by President Isaac Herzog, along with Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara.

At 10:15 a.m., Prime Minister Netanyahu will host President Trump for a private meeting in his Knesset office to discuss key regional developments and bilateral relations.

At 10:45 a.m., President Trump, together with Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife, will meet with the families of hostages at the Knesset, offering them words of comfort and solidarity.

At 11:00 a.m., President Trump will address the Knesset plenum alongside Prime Minister Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, and Opposition Leader MK Yair Lapid.

The visit will conclude at 1:00 p.m., when President Herzog, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Sara Netanyahu will accompany President Trump back to Ben-Gurion Airport for his departure.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israel’s Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, declared Sunday night the launch of Operation “Returning Home”, signaling the final stage of the war with Hamas and the imminent return of the remaining hostages held in Gaza — two years after the October 7 massacre that upended Israeli society. “In a few hours we will all be reunited — one people, embraced and united,” Zamir said in a nationally televised address from IDF headquarters. “We will rejoice at the sight of our living hostages returning to their families, and we will mourn the return of those who were murdered.” The remarks, delivered as the army completed its redeployment along the Gaza border, framed the upcoming exchange as both a military and moral turning point — the culmination of what Zamir called “an existential war” that transformed a shattered nation into a “generation of victory.” “We went out to defend on October 7th, from a shattering failure that will be engraved in the memory of every Israeli soldier and commander,” Zamir said. “From that fracture, the generation of victory has risen.” He described the campaign against Hamas as a hard-won triumph achieved through “two years of relentless military pressure” combined with “complementary diplomatic measures,” asserting that the terror group had been defeated and that Gaza “no longer poses a threat to the State of Israel and its civilians.” The IDF, Zamir said, is now fully deployed and “at full readiness” to oversee the transfer of the remaining 20 living hostages and the bodies of several others who were killed in captivity. “The safety of our troops in battle and the safety of the hostages in captivity were central considerations throughout the entire course of the war,” he noted, stressing that every operational decision had been made to protect lives. He praised the coordination between combat units, intelligence teams, and the Hostages Directorate — led by Maj. Gen. Gal Hirsch — calling their work “precise, professional, and responsible.” “I saw your determination to bring the hostages home,” Zamir told his soldiers. “I saw eyes shining through the veil of exhaustion. I saw the unceasing faith in the justness of our cause. You did it — you brought this day.” Zamir’s speech took on a tone of national reconciliation as he urged Israelis to see the hostages’ return as a moment of unity after division and trauma. “Throughout the war, the value of camaraderie stood out between the lines,” he said. “Time and time again it united and strengthened us in moments of disagreement. On the day of the hostages’ return, we will convene for a day of national unity.” The general’s remarks underscored a deliberate shift in message from the military’s earlier tone of defiance toward one of closure and cohesion — positioning the end of the hostage crisis not just as a victory, but as a symbol of national restoration. Zamir also paid tribute to the 915 IDF soldiers killed since the start of the war, as well as the thousands injured or traumatized. “The abyss of loss they left in the hearts of their loved ones has also been opened within me,” he said. “We will not forget, not even for a moment, the price of this loss, the sacrifice, or the individuals harmed physically or emotionally, who […]

On Motzaei Shabbos, a special gathering was held at the Hayazdim shul in Yerushalayim, where crowds assembled to welcome the Rishon LeTzion, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, at a traditional reception in his honor.

The event drew numerous prominent figures, including city rabbonim, dayanim, roshei yeshiva, and members of the Chief Rabbinate Council, all eager to hear the Rishon LeTzion’s weekly shiur.

During his Torah address, Rav Yosef spoke about the anticipated return of the hostages and publicly praised US President Donald Trump for his decisive role in bringing about their release. He declared, “We are privileged to hear of the hostages returning home. The price is indeed high, but thank G-d they are coming back – thanks to a kingdom of kindness, America, and the Righteous Among the Nations, the US President.”

Rav Yosef also discussed the halachic aspects surrounding this momentous event, explaining that the returning hostages would have special reason to recite the Shehecheyanu blessing multiple times over Sukkos. “There are three Shehecheyanu brachos here,” he explained. “They will bless for the sukkah, for the daled minim, and for their parents: Shehecheyanu for seeing them again after two years. It will be a sanctification of God’s name.”

The Rishon LeTzion further instructed that every shul across Eretz Yisroel should sing Nishmas Kol Chai on Simchas Torah as an expression of hoda’ah and joy “for the miracle that they have been released to good lives and peace.”

Turning emotional, Rav Yosef addressed the painful loss of those hostages who were murdered and whose bodies are to be returned as part of the agreement. “Those killed for being Jews will sit in the first row of Gan Eden because they were killed while they were Jews,” he said somberly.

Concluding his remarks, Rav Yosef shared a poignant revelation about the halachic challenges that arose during the war. He disclosed that senior defense officials had visited his home to seek psak halachah on determining death in cases of missing hostages, so that their wives could be freed from the status of agunos. “A great effort was made so that not a single woman remained an agunah,” he stressed.

{Matzav.com Israel}

One of the inmates slated for release under the current hostage exchange agreement has been disqualified from the deal following a violent attack on an Israel Prison Service (IPS) guard.

Authorities confirmed that the prisoner’s custody has been extended by an additional three days as he was handed over to Israel Police for questioning and formal arrest proceedings.

The altercation occurred at Ketziot Prison, where the inmate—who was not originally included among those approved for release but had been detained during the IDF’s ground offensive in Gaza—assaulted a female prison officer, causing injuries that required medical attention.

Security personnel from an IPS unit accompanying the officer quickly intervened and restrained the attacker before transferring him into police custody for investigation.

In a statement, the Israel Prison Service said, “A detainee attacked a detention officer. She required local medical treatment. The detention personnel continue to operate in the prisons and in the deportation complexes against the worst of the enemies even at this hour, in accordance with the guidance of the politicians, all in order to enable the return of the hostages to Israel.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Hostage and Missing Persons Coordinator, Brigadier General (Res.) Gal Hirsch, announced Sunday that the country is ready for the long-awaited release of hostages, which is anticipated to start early Monday morning.

Hirsch told reporters, “At the moment, on Monday at 6-7, the release begins to be realistic. But things can change.”

He explained that “Each Red Cross convoy that takes the hostages is expected to consist of between eight and 10 vehicles, including an ambulance, in case of an emergency.” He added, “Everything the Red Cross asked for from us, they got.”

Once the first group of hostages is released, they will immediately be received by Israeli representatives, including professionals specially trained and experienced in handling hostage returns over the past two years. The initial interaction will take place as soon as the hostages cross out of Gaza.

Following their initial debriefing, the hostages will be transported to Camp Re’im, where they will be reunited with their families. The military base has undergone significant expansion to accommodate the larger number of hostages expected this time. Each returnee will also receive a comprehensive medical evaluation upon arrival.

According to the health coordination plan, 10 of the released hostages will be taken to Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital, five will be transferred to Beilinson Hospital, and another five to Ichilov Hospital. Soroka and Barzilai hospitals remain on high alert to receive additional hostages if required.

Once the Red Cross successfully completes the transport of the living hostages to Israel, its teams will return to Gaza to recover the remains of those who perished while in captivity.

Hirsch also referred to the multinational task force set up to locate the missing—jointly led by the United States, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey—which will begin its mission after the bodies are retrieved. As Hirsch stated, “Where engineering activity is required, we will allow the entry of engineering equipment, or specialists if needed.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The final stage of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire is set to unfold within hours, as Hamas confirmed Sunday evening that all remaining living hostages will be released from Gaza on Monday morning — nearly two years after the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre that launched the war. Senior Hamas official Hussam Badran told the London-based Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper that the release of the living hostages “will take place tomorrow,” as part of the agreement requiring Hamas to hand over every surviving captive — along with the bodies of those confirmed dead — by noon Monday. According to reports from the Qatari outlet Al-Araby and Al Jazeera, the living hostages will be freed from three separate points across the Gaza Strip, with the Red Cross supervising the transfers. Later in the evening, Hamas is expected to transfer to Israel the bodies of hostages who were killed in captivity. The terms of the ceasefire — negotiated in Sharm el-Sheikh with U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediation — stipulate that Hamas must deliver all living hostages and the remains of the deceased whose locations it knows by 12 p.m. Monday. Israeli officials said the IDF, the Hostages and Missing Persons Directorate, and the Red Cross are fully mobilized for the operation, which is expected to bring home the final 20 living hostages still held by Hamas. The transfer will occur in coordination with Red Cross vehicles, which will cross into Gaza at multiple points to collect the captives and bring them to prearranged handover sites under IDF supervision. “We are ready for every scenario and every timeline,” said Gal Hirsch, Israel’s Coordinator for the Hostages and Missing Persons, in a briefing earlier Sunday. “This time, it’s everyone — all the living hostages are coming home.” A senior Hamas official cited by Al Jazeera said the group has completed internal preparations for the release, including verifying the identities and numbers of the hostages and transferring them to various sites throughout Gaza. “Hamas representatives will meet tonight with the Red Cross to finalize the release mechanism,” the official said, without specifying an exact hour for the operation. The locations of the three release points have not been publicly disclosed, though they are believed to be distributed across northern, central, and southern Gaza to facilitate coordination with the Red Cross and Israeli forces. While the living hostages are expected to cross into Israel during the morning hours, Al-Araby reported that Hamas plans to transfer the bodies of several deceased captives later Monday evening. Israeli officials said preparations are in place at military bases and hospitals to receive both survivors and remains simultaneously. Under the agreement, the bodies of Israeli hostages will be handed over to Red Cross personnel, who will transport them to IDF custody for identification and military honors before they are taken to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

After 737 days of war, anguish, and waiting, Israel is bracing for the final hostage release — the moment when the last 20 living captives held by Hamas are brought home. “This is a day of tension, anticipation, hope, great pain and joy,” said Gal Hirsch, Israel’s Coordinator for the Hostages and Missing Persons, as his team completed final checks for what may be the most emotionally charged operation since the war began. “We are at full readiness.” The release, set for 2 a.m. Monday, will mark the completion of the first phase of the sweeping ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas — a deal intended to end nearly two years of brutal conflict and bring closure to hundreds of families torn apart since October 7, 2023. Hirsch described the upcoming operation as the culmination of an unprecedented national effort — a mix of military precision, humanitarian coordination, and raw emotion. The International Committee of the Red Cross will transport the hostages out of Gaza in a convoy of up to ten vehicles, including an ambulance and a minibus, before handing them over to Israeli forces along the “yellow line,” the first designated withdrawal zone from the Strip. Once in Israeli custody, the group will be flown to the Re’im base in the Negev — the same compound that received the earliest waves of released hostages in 2023 and 2024, now expanded and fortified for what Hirsch called “the most comprehensive and sensitive operation to date.” “This time, it’s not a partial release or a symbolic gesture,” Hirsch said. “It’s the return of everyone who remains alive.” At Re’im, each freed captive will be taken into a private room for immediate medical evaluation before reuniting with relatives who have been waiting for two years. Psychologists, doctors, and trauma specialists will be on site to stabilize and assess each person’s physical and emotional condition. From there, the hostages will be airlifted by Israeli Air Force helicopters to three hospitals across central Israel: Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer (10 hostages), Ichilov in Tel Aviv (five), and Beilinson in Petah Tikva (five). Each will be placed in what officials are calling “safe rooms” — sealed spaces reserved for families and medical teams only. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally toured the medical facilities and military bases on Friday, overseeing final briefings. “He gave very specific instructions to ensure that every detail, down to the smallest logistical point, is covered,” Hirsch said. Additional emergency capacity has been set aside at Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva and Barzilai in Ashkelon. “We are prepared for every scenario,” Hirsch added. “This is not a symbolic event — it’s the completion of a national mission.” Alongside the 20 living hostages, Hamas is expected to return the remains of at least a dozen of the 28 Israelis confirmed to have died in captivity. Once the Red Cross completes the transfer of the living, it will shift to collecting the coffins of the dead, which will be handed over to Israeli forces. The coffins will be wrapped in Israeli flags and received with full military honors at Re’im. A military rabbi will lead kaddish before the bodies are transported to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir for identification. Families will be notified as soon as confirmations are made. […]

Palestinian news outlets, including Hamas-affiliated Arrow Unit sources, report that Saleh al-Jaafari was killed by members of the Daghmush clan.

Attached is footage of the initial reception point where the hostages will arrive.

Simchas Beis HaShoeva and the yahrtzeit of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov zt”l at the Sukkah of HaRav Shalom Arush, with singer R’ Avrahami Longer.

The sukkah in the city of Omsk, Siberia, built by the city’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Naftali Wilhelm.

Simchas Bais HaShoeva by Satmar Bais Hamedrash on Hooper Street on Thursday night. Music by Yanky Briskman.

At the United Hatzalah concert with Avraham Fried and Sasson Shaulov singing Od Yoter Tov.

Earlier today, IDF troops and Israel Police arrested an armed suspect near Herodion in the West Bank, seizing a Carlo submachine gun, a handgun, and ammunition during a search of the structure where he had been operating.

The family of hostage Segev Kalfon prepares for his return by packing a bag of his favorite things. Notice the Baba Sali and Lubavitcher Rebbe on the wall behind them.

Saudi news outlets al-Hadath and al-Arabiya reported Sunday, quoting Arab officials, that the remains of an Israeli intelligence operative buried in Syria could soon be handed back to Israel.

Eli Cohen (1924–1965), one of Israel’s most celebrated spies, infiltrated the top ranks of Syria’s political and military establishment under the false identity of Kamel Amin Thaabet. From within Damascus, he transmitted critical intelligence about Syrian military deployments, including defensive networks overlooking the Golan Heights. In 1965, his cover was exposed, and he was captured and executed by hanging in the Syrian capital.

In May, Syria transferred several of Cohen’s personal effects back to Israel—a gesture that, according to a Reuters report, was seen as a deliberate move to show goodwill toward US President Donald Trump and to lay the groundwork for potential diplomatic engagement with Israel.

In a separate but related operation, the Mossad and Israel’s Strategic Intelligence Service succeeded in retrieving the official Syrian intelligence archive documenting Cohen’s espionage work.

The covert mission, carried out around the 60th anniversary of Cohen’s execution, is regarded as one of Israel’s most delicate and complex intelligence undertakings in recent years. The recovered materials had been safeguarded by Syrian security agencies for decades, hidden away from public knowledge.

Among the recovered possessions was Cohen’s handwritten will, composed just hours before his execution, along with personal items confiscated from his home after his arrest.

The archive consisted of approximately 2,500 pieces—documents, audio recordings, photographs, correspondence, and journals—many of which were made public for the first time. Collectively, they provide an extensive chronicle of Cohen’s intelligence-gathering activities and his subsequent interrogation by Syrian authorities.

{Matzav.com Israel}