Israel will free 20 long‑held hostages on 13 October, exchanging them for thousands of Palestinian prisoners, under a deal with Hamas that marks a turnabout after two years of war.
Phase One of the Swap
After more than two years, 20 Israeli hostages will be released, while Israel will free thousands of Palestinian prisoners. The swap of hostages and prisoners is the centerpiece of the last‑week agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The release of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM Polish time on 13 October. The process is expected to last about two hours.
Historical Context
The agreement follows a dramatic reversal of fortunes after two years of Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, sparked by Hamas’s attack on 7 October 2023, which killed roughly 1,200 Israelis and captured 251.
Since that day, military actions by Israel have killed more than 67,000 Palestinians.
