Hostage and prisoner exchange operations are anticipated to commence within three hours, according to a Sky News Arabia correspondent in Gaza, as materials for returning Israeli hostages are prepared. The handover ceremony in Gaza is notably absent compared to previous instances, with Hamas expected to begin releasing living hostages and the remains of deceased captives. Over the past hour, crowds of individuals have been disrupting Red Cross vehicle passage in Gaza, chanting "Free Palestine." Kits prepared for the returning Israeli hostages include clothing, personal equipment, toiletries, a laptop, a mobile phone, a tablet, and headphones, as reported by Israel News Pulse. This development occurs amidst ongoing clan conflicts within Gaza City, with Qassam forces having previously deployed fighters to the Sabra neighborhood and escalating attacks against the Dughmush family. The Nassar family has also declared their entry into the fighting following the assassination of Wael bin Maher Nassar. President Donald Trump had previously stated that the U.S. is aware of Hamas rearming and has granted them a period to act as a police force for safety in Gaza's devastated areas. This statement followed reports that U.S. and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) food distribution sites were temporarily closing as part of prisoner transfer protocols. Separately, protests against a ceasefire not arranged by President Trump have occurred. Previous reports indicated that Hamas had begun moving hostages amidst ongoing preparations for hostage and prisoner exchanges. A summit was planned for October 13th, 2025, in Pisgat Sharm-Sheikh, intended to include President Trump and Egyptian President Abd al-Fattah A-Sisi, among other international leaders, but notably excluded Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas. The GHF spokesperson had described the closures as "tactical changes" during prisoner transfers, noting there was "no change to our long-term plan."
