On Monday, October 13, Israel released around 250 Palestinians who had been serving life or long-term sentences, along with approximately 1,718 others detained during the Gaza war. Among the freed was Abdullah Abu Rafe, who described Israeli prisons as “slaughterhouses” rather than detention facilities. He recounted the harsh conditions, including the absence of mattresses, confiscated belongings, poor food, and general mistreatment. Another former prisoner, Yasin Abu Amra, described experiencing severe hunger, beatings, and torture, revealing he went four days without food. Said Shubair expressed indescribable joy at seeing the sun without bars, emphasizing that freedom is priceless. The United Nations had previously listed many of those released as forcibly disappeared. The testimonies shed light on the severe human rights concerns in Israeli detention facilities and the emotional relief and elation of those regaining their freedom.

Israel has freed 3,700 Palestinian detainees as part of a Gaza ceasefire agreement, according to the country’s Central Prison Authority. The release took place on October 13 in two phases. Around 2,000 prisoners from Ofer Prison near Ramallah were transported by buses, arranged by the International Committee of the Red Cross, to the West Bank city of Beitunia. Another 1,718 prisoners, previously held in Israel’s Negev Prison, were sent to Gaza’s Khan Younis. Among them were 250 inmates serving life sentences, many of whom were detained following Israel’s 2023 military operations in Gaza. Upon arrival, the released individuals underwent medical examinations at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis. Hundreds of Palestinians gathered in Beitunia and Khan Younis to welcome them amid scenes of joy and relief, marking a significant moment in the ongoing ceasefire process.

In a landmark event held in Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh, world leaders gathered to sign the Gaza Peace Agreement aimed at ending over two years of war between Israel and Hamas. U.S. President Donald Trump, calling it “The Biggest Deal,” joined Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and over 30 other leaders, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to attend, citing the start of the Jewish festival Simchat Torah, though diplomatic sources suggested Erdoğan’s warning of a potential Muslim boycott influenced his decision. Trump hailed the agreement as a new dawn for Middle East peace, while analysts said it could bring a lasting ceasefire and humanitarian rebuilding to Gaza.

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has released seven Israeli hostages, transferring them to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza, according to Reuters. The Israeli military confirmed the release, saying the ICRC received the hostages before heading toward Israeli forces in Gaza. The freed hostages include twins Gali and Ziv Berman, Matan Angrest, Alon Ohel, Omri Miran, Eitan Mor, and Guy Gilboa-Dalal. Thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, embracing and waving flags in celebration of the news. Meanwhile, large crowds assembled in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, where hundreds of released Palestinian prisoners are expected to arrive at the Nasser Medical Complex. Hamas earlier announced a list of 20 Israeli hostages to be freed in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons, marking one of the largest prisoner exchange efforts since the conflict began.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for killing 58 Pakistani soldiers and seizing 25 border posts during clashes on Saturday night along the Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban government in Kabul, stated that Afghan forces pushed Pakistani troops out of these posts, injuring at least 30 others. He warned Pakistan against future violations of Afghan sovereignty. Earlier, Pakistan had accused Afghan forces of violating its airspace and carrying out a market bombing, labeling its own operation as retaliatory. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the Afghan attacks as unprovoked, highlighting civilian casualties, and promised strict retaliation. Reports indicate that both sides used small arms and mortars in the Kunar-Kurram region. Several areas including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir, Chitral, and Baramcha witnessed heavy gunfire and shelling. The situation has raised concerns over escalating tensions along the volatile border.

Israel has announced plans to demolish the remaining underground tunnels in Gaza operated by Hamas immediately after the scheduled release of hostages, a move approved by the United States. The tunnels, which extend under the border into Israeli territory, have been used by Hamas to launch surprise attacks. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military has been instructed to prepare for the operation, which will follow the current U.S.-supported ceasefire in Gaza. The ceasefire, initiated three days ago, has already paved the way for the release of 48 Israeli hostages and the reciprocal freeing of 250 prisoners and 1,700 Palestinians detained by Israel. Hamas has agreed to the first phase of the U.S. plan but has not yet committed to full disarmament, citing complications in the second phase.

Pakistan’s defense forces have reportedly killed more than 200 Taliban and allied terrorists in a large-scale retaliatory operation following unprovoked attacks on Pakistani border posts by Afghan forces late Saturday night. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of the Pakistan Army stated that precision strikes, raids, and targeted assaults were carried out on Taliban camps, posts, training centres, and support networks operating from Afghan territory. Multiple Taliban positions along the border were destroyed, and twenty-one Afghan positions were temporarily seized. Afghan authorities claimed 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed, while Pakistan has not released official casualty figures but said significant damage was inflicted on Afghan forces. Sporadic firing continues in areas such as Kurram. Pakistan has warned that it will not tolerate the use of Afghan territory for terrorism and reserves the right to target cross-border terrorist positions to ensure national security. Regional powers have called for dialogue and de-escalation.

Hamas has announced that the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza will begin on Monday morning under a newly implemented ceasefire agreement. In exchange, Israel is expected to free around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners for 20 living Israeli captives. The prisoner swap marks the first phase of the ceasefire, which comes after nearly two years of conflict. Senior Hamas leader Osama Hamdan confirmed the schedule in an interview with AFP. On the same day, world leaders—including U.S. President Donald Trump, Egypt’s Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and UN chief António Guterres—will gather in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh for an international summit aimed at ending the Gaza war and promoting long-term Middle East stability. Hamas has declined to attend, citing its indirect participation through Qatari and Egyptian mediators.

In Sudan’s besieged western city of El Fasher, a drone attack by the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a shelter for displaced persons has killed at least 60 people. The shelter, located on a university field, continues to have victims’ bodies unrecovered. Local resistance committees have condemned the attack as a “massacre” and urged the international community to intervene swiftly. Since April 2023, the ongoing conflict between Sudanese government forces and RSF has claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions, and left nearly 25 million people facing extreme famine. El Fasher, the last state capital in Darfur outside RSF control, has emerged as a critical front in the conflict. Human rights organizations have described the city as “an open-air morgue” due to the deteriorating humanitarian conditions and rising civilian casualties. Immediate relief and international attention are considered crucial.

Pakistan’s military has claimed the capture of 19 Afghan border posts following overnight clashes on October 11. Pakistani forces reportedly attacked Afghan positions, including Durran Mela, Turkmenjai, Shahidan, Kunar, and Chagai, causing several Afghan soldiers to flee, with dozens killed or injured. Pakistan said its retaliatory strikes involved artillery, tanks, drones, and aircraft, targeting Afghan posts and armed groups along the international border. Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of a previous airstrike on Kabul, prompting the recent clashes. Both sides reported fatalities, with Taliban and Afghan forces confirming fighting in Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktika, Khost, and Helmand provinces. Islamabad denied the airstrike but warned Kabul to stop sheltering Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Neighboring countries, including Qatar, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, have urged both nations to exercise restraint amid escalating border tensions.

More than 500,000 displaced Palestinians have returned to Gaza City after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on Friday, October 10. According to Gaza’s Civil Defense agency, residents are going back to their ruined homes despite massive destruction caused by weeks of heavy bombardment. The truce follows indirect talks mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, aiming to end nearly two years of conflict. Former U.S. President Donald Trump played a key role in initiating the peace process after proposing a 20-point peace plan during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Both sides agreed to the plan’s first phase earlier this week, paving the way for the ceasefire and partial troop withdrawal. For many Palestinians, the return marks both relief and uncertainty amid the city’s shattered infrastructure and ongoing humanitarian crisis.

In the wake of Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, most of the enclave’s mosques have been reduced to rubble, erasing centuries of spiritual and architectural heritage. Once-standing minarets that called the faithful to prayer now lie shattered, leaving Gaza nearly devoid of its historic skyline. The Gaza Media Office reports that out of 1,244 mosques, more than 835 have been completely destroyed and 180 partially damaged — including Ottoman- and Mamluk-era sites. Among the ruins, survivors like 62-year-old Abu Khaled al-Najjar continue to pray over the debris of their lifelong sanctuaries, refusing to abandon faith despite devastation. In the Old City, young residents like Mahmoud Kandil search the wreckage of the Great Omari Mosque for remnants of their past, while elderly worshippers such as Umm Wael cling to prayer from their homes. Gaza’s faith endures, even as its mosques vanish beneath the dust of war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to help end the ongoing war in Ukraine by applying the same diplomatic approach that recently brought about a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. According to a report by Samaa TV, Zelensky made the appeal during a telephone conversation, where he congratulated Trump on his successful mediation in Gaza. The two leaders also discussed strengthening Ukraine’s air defense systems and long-range missile capabilities amid continued Russian attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure. Zelensky expressed gratitude for the United States’ continued support and confirmed that specific agreements were reached to enhance Ukraine’s defense strength. Drawing on Trump’s earlier diplomatic success in the Middle East, Zelensky urged him to use that experience to promote peace in Eastern Europe, stressing that Russia must be compelled to join meaningful negotiations through a position of strong resistance.

The Department of Meteorology has forecasted that October may witness the formation of one to three low-pressure systems in the Bay of Bengal, with the potential for one to intensify into a depression or cyclone. Normal rainfall is expected across most parts of the country, though temperatures may remain slightly above average. The forecast predicts two to four days of moderate to heavy thunderstorms and three to five days of light to moderate thunderstorms. Rivers are likely to maintain normal flow, but heavy rains could trigger short-term flooding in northern, northeastern, and southeastern hill regions. Daily evaporation is estimated between 2.25 and 4.25 millimeters, with 5 to 7 hours of bright sunshine on average, signaling typical seasonal weather patterns alongside possible extreme events.

Hamas has announced an agreement with Israel aimed at ending more than two years of conflict in Gaza. The deal, based on a U.S. proposal, includes the cessation of hostilities, withdrawal of occupation forces, entry of humanitarian aid, and the exchange of prisoners. A key figure in the talks is Hamas commander Ibrahim Hamed, considered by Israel’s Shin Bet as “Second Yahya Sinwar” and serving a 54-year life sentence. Hamed, a veteran of the Second Intifada and planner of multiple military operations, has remained a symbol of Palestinian resistance despite harsh imprisonment. Under the initial phase of the agreement, Hamas will release 20 Israeli prisoners within 72 hours of the ceasefire, while Israel will free over 2,000 Palestinian detainees, including hundreds serving life sentences.