Hostage and prisoner exchange operations are anticipated to commence within three hours in Gaza, according to a Sky News Arabia correspondent, as Hamas prepares to release living hostages and the remains of deceased captives. The handover ceremony in Gaza will reportedly be absent, differing from previous instances. This development occurred between 1:05 AM and 2:05 AM UTC on October 13th, 2025. 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. These preparations coincide with ongoing internal conflicts within Gaza City, where Qassam forces have deployed fighters to the Sabra neighborhood and escalated 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 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. Protests against a ceasefire not arranged by President Trump have also 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."
