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Hostages, prisoners freed; key questions persist for Israel-Hamas ceasefire

Venus L Peñaflor
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Hostages, prisoners freed; key questions persist for Israel-Hamas ceasefire

JERUSALEM — Israel and Hamas took a critical first step in their fragile ceasefire agreement on Monday, freeing hostages and prisoners in a move that raised cautious optimism that the U.S.-brokered deal could eventually lead to a permanent end to the two-year war that has devastated Gaza.

Despite this breakthrough, major issues remain unresolved, including whether Hamas will disarm, who will govern Gaza, and the broader question of Palestinian statehood — underscoring the fragile nature of an agreement that, for now, only pauses the bloodiest conflict in Israeli-Palestinian history.

For Israelis, the release of the 20 remaining living hostages brought relief and jubilation. Public gatherings erupted in cheers as emotional reunions played out across the country. “You are alive! Two arms and two legs,” said Zvika Mor, embracing his son Eitan for the first time in two years. In another emotional reunion, Bar Kupershtein’s father, Tal, who uses a wheelchair, stood up briefly to hug his freed son.

Four deceased hostages were also returned on Monday, with another 24 expected to follow under the first phase of the ceasefire. The deal also commits Israel to allowing a surge of humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies, into Gaza.

In Gaza and the West Bank, the release of Palestinian prisoners sparked widespread celebrations. Crowds gathered in Beitunia and Khan Younis, waving flags and flashing V-for-victory signs. “Praise be to God, our Lord, who has honored us with this release and this joy,” said Mahmoud Fayez, a former detainee returned to Gaza after being arrested last year during an Israeli raid on Shifa Hospital.

The freed prisoners include 250 serving life sentences for attacks on Israelis, along with 1,700 others detained from Gaza during the war and held without charge. In Palestinian society, where nearly every family has been affected by imprisonment, the return of detainees carries deep emotional and political weight.

U.S. President Donald Trump traveled to the region to commemorate the occasion, urging Israeli lawmakers to pursue lasting peace. “Israel, with our help, has won all that they can by force of arms,” Trump said in a speech to the Knesset. “Now it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East.” His remarks were briefly interrupted when two members of parliament held up a sign reading “Recognize Palestine” before being escorted out.

In Egypt, Trump joined President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas, and representatives from more than 20 nations to discuss next steps. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not attend due to a Jewish holiday, but he told parliament that he supported the deal, stating it “ends the war by achieving all our objectives.” Critics, however, have accused him of prolonging the war for political gain, an allegation he denies.

The conflict began with Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. Israel’s subsequent offensive killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, whose figures, though produced under Hamas’ administration, are considered credible by the United Nations and independent analysts.

The war has destabilized the wider Middle East, sparking clashes involving Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen, and direct hostilities with Iran.

Under the ceasefire plan, an international administration is expected to govern Gaza temporarily, with Palestinian technocrats handling daily affairs. The United States envisions an eventual role for the Palestinian Authority contingent on internal reforms alongside an Arab-led international security force and Palestinian police. About 200 U.S. troops are already in Israel to help monitor the truce.

Israel insists that Hamas must disarm before any long-term peace can take hold, while Hamas demands a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The Israeli military has so far pulled back from most of Gaza City, Khan Younis, and other areas but remains in Rafah, parts of northern Gaza, and along the border.

With Gaza in ruins and its reconstruction expected to take years, questions of governance, security, and sovereignty remain unresolved. The ceasefire, for now, offers only a fragile pause in a war that has left lasting scars on both sides.

People gather to greet freed Palestinian prisoners arriving on buses in the Gaza Strip after their release from Israeli jails under a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

US condemns China over vessel clash, backs Philippines in South China Sea

EDGARDO HERNAL
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US condemns China over vessel clash, backs Philippines in South China Sea

WASHINGTON — The United States strongly condemned China on Monday after a maritime clash between a Chinese vessel and a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship near Thitu (Pag-asa) Island in the contested South China Sea.

“The United States condemns China’s October 12 ramming and water cannoning of a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel close to Thitu Island in the South China Sea,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement. “We stand with our Philippine allies as they confront China’s dangerous actions which undermine regional stability,” it added.

The confrontation followed earlier accusations traded between Manila and Beijing over whether the Philippine vessel had strayed into disputed waters or whether China’s coast guard had employed coercive tactics.

According to Philippine statements, the incident involved a Chinese ship using high-pressure water cannons on the BFAR vessel, followed by a ramming maneuver, causing minor structural damage but no reported injuries.

China, in response, urged the Philippines to halt what it called “provocations” and defended its actions as efforts to “safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.”

In its statement, the U.S. also reaffirmed that under Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, an armed attack on Philippine government vessels or aircraft anywhere in the South China Sea is covered.

Observers note that the region surrounding Thitu Island is strategically significant, lying near China’s militarized artificial islands. The clash underscores renewed tension in maritime claims that involve multiple nations, overlapping claims, heavy shipping traffic, and the 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated China’s expansive nine-dash line claim.

This recent confrontation follows earlier incidents in 2025 involving aggressive Chinese maneuvers, including water cannon use against Philippine vessels in research or resupply missions.

As tensions in the South China Sea persist, Manila has pushed its “transparency initiative,” publicly documenting maritime encounters to seek international support and deter further aggression.

Tarragona, Davao Oriental nasa state of calamity; libo-libong pamilya apektado ng sunod-sunod na lindol

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Tarragona, Davao Oriental nasa state of calamity; libo-libong pamilya apektado ng sunod-sunod na lindol

DAVAO CITY — Idineklara ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Tarragona, Davao Oriental ang state of calamity matapos ang dalawang malalakas na lindol na yumanig sa karagatang sakop ng bayan ng Manay noong Biyernes, Oktubre 10, 2025. Ang mga lindol ay may lakas na magnitude 7.4 at 6.8, na nagdulot ng matinding pinsala at takot sa mga residente.

Ayon sa lokal na pamahalaan, tinatayang 10,000 pamilya ang apektado ng sunod-sunod na pagyanig, at nasa 2,000 katao pa ang kasalukuyang nananatili sa mga evacuation center. Marami sa kanila ang nag-aatubiling bumalik sa kanilang mga tahanan dahil sa patuloy na aftershocks.

Patuloy naman ang pamamahagi ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ng mga food pack at bottled water sa mga apektadong residente.

Naglaan ang lokal na pamahalaan ng ₱3 milyon mula sa Quick Response Fund para sa mga pang-emerhensiyang hakbang at tulong sa mga naapektuhan.

Ayon kay Mayor Kaka Bulaong, patuloy pa rin ang operasyon ng mga serbisyo ng munisipyo, bagama’t pansamantalang inilipat ito sa mas ligtas na lugar matapos ideklarang code red ang gusali ng munisipyo at mga evacuation center.

“All of the program and services are still ongoing as regular na ginagawa ng kawani kaso off-site kasi ang municipal building naka-code red. Ang evacuation center, as well as the municipal, tagged already as red meaning inhabitable, meaning di na pwedeng pasukan so nasa open space po kami ngayon,” paliwanag ng alkalde.

Dagdag pa ni Bulaong, nakapaghanda na ang LGU ng 16-ektaryang relocation site para sa mga pamilya na nawalan ng tirahan.

“Meron po tayong na-acquire, bago lang po… nasa 16 hectares ang LGU… we focused on land banking… anytime, kung may ibibigay po relating to construction of houses, meron po kaming i-offer… may pag-uusap na po si DHSUD, NHA at LGU,” aniya.

Patuloy ang monitoring at relief operations sa Tarragona habang inaasahan pa ang mga kasunod na aftershocks sa rehiyon.

Living hostages and Palestinian prisoners freed as part of Gaza ceasefire

Venus L Peñaflor
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Living hostages and Palestinian prisoners freed as part of Gaza ceasefire

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Hamas released the remaining 20 living hostages held in Gaza on Monday, while Israel began freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire that has paused two years of devastating conflict. The war had killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, left vast parts of Gaza in ruins, and held scores of captives in militant custody.

All of the freed hostages are men who have since returned to Israel for medical evaluation and reunions with their families. The remains of 28 other hostages who died in captivity are also expected to be handed over, though the timing of their return remains uncertain.

At the same time, buses carrying dozens of Palestinian prisoners arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah and in the Gaza Strip. Israel is set to release more than 1,900 prisoners and detainees under the agreement. Cheering crowds greeted the arrivals in Ramallah, while at least one bus crossed into Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Prisoners Office.

The exchange of hostages and prisoners has fueled cautious optimism for an end to what has become the deadliest war between Israel and Hamas. The ceasefire is also expected to open the way for increased humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, where parts of the territory are suffering from famine.

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in the region to discuss the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and postwar plans with regional leaders.

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. In Israel’s subsequent offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government. The United Nations and independent experts have cited the ministry’s figures as the most reliable available estimates.

“Much of Gaza is a wasteland,” U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told the Associated Press on Sunday.

In Israel, families of hostages gathered in Tel Aviv erupted in cheers as news broke that the first group had been handed over to the Red Cross. Israeli television broadcast images of the freed men, including 28-year-old twins Gali and Ziv Berman embracing after their release. Hostages freed earlier had said the twins, from Kfar Aza, were held separately.

In Ramallah, Israeli forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds awaiting the release of Palestinian prisoners. Witnesses said drones hovered overhead as leaflets were distributed, warning that those “supporting terrorist organizations” risked arrest. The Israeli military declined to comment on the flyers.

Among the 1,900 released prisoners are 250 people serving life sentences for attacks on Israelis, and 1,700 others detained from Gaza without formal charges. Many will be sent to the West Bank, Gaza, or into exile.

The hostages’ return marks the end of a painful period for Israel. For nearly two years, the captives’ families had held weekly demonstrations calling for their release, while the nation’s media tracked the days of their captivity.

As public pressure mounted, critics accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of delaying negotiations for political reasons, while he blamed Hamas for refusing to compromise. The eventual ceasefire came after growing international pressure and Israel’s increasing diplomatic isolation.

It remains unclear when the bodies of the 28 deceased hostages will be returned. Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for hostages and missing persons, said an international task force would locate and repatriate remains not returned within 72 hours.

Trump, speaking to reporters upon his arrival in Israel, declared, “The war is over,” though significant uncertainties remain over Gaza’s future and Hamas’s role. Israel insists Hamas must disarm, a demand the militant group rejects.

Under the U.S. plan, an international body would oversee Gaza’s administration, with Palestinian technocrats managing daily governance. Hamas has said Gaza’s leadership should be determined by Palestinians themselves.

Trump is expected to travel to Egypt later Monday for a summit with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and leaders from more than 20 countries to discuss the region’s future. Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas will attend, according to his adviser Mahmoud al-Habbash.

Although Egypt initially announced that Netanyahu would join the summit, his office later said he would not attend due to a Jewish holiday.

The U.S. proposal also envisions an eventual role for the Palestinian Authority, contingent on internal reforms, and the deployment of an Arab-led international security force in Gaza. About 200 U.S. troops are currently in Israel to help monitor the ceasefire.

The plan also references the possibility of a future Palestinian state, a prospect long opposed by Netanyahu, leaving many questions about the path to lasting peace in the region.

“Your zodiac sign might be wrong?” Experts reveal the truth behind the viral claim

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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“Your zodiac sign might be wrong?” Experts reveal the truth behind the viral claim

A viral post circulating on social media recently reignited debate over astrology, claiming that people’s zodiac signs are now “wrong” because of changes in the position of the constellations. The claim, which quickly spread on TikTok and Facebook, argues that the Earth’s axis has shifted over thousands of years, altering the zodiac calendar and, for some, their astrological identities.

However, both astronomers and astrologers have clarified that the viral report is misleading. According to a feature by People.com, astrologers emphasized that Western astrology does not use the actual positions of constellations in the sky. Instead, it follows what is known as the tropical zodiac, a system based on the Earth’s seasons and the Sun’s position relative to the equinoxes, not the shifting stars.

“Western astrology is season-based, not constellation-based,” explained astrologer Susan Miller, founder of Astrology Zone. “Your zodiac sign hasn’t changed. Aries will always begin at the spring equinox, Libra at the fall equinox, and so on.”

The confusion stems from a scientific concept known as axial precession — a slow wobble in the Earth’s rotation that gradually shifts the position of the constellations over thousands of years. Astronomers note that while the stars’ positions have indeed changed slightly since ancient times, this does not affect the zodiac signs used in astrology, which are tied to Earth’s orbital cycle rather than the night sky’s visible layout.

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and science communicator, has long pointed out that astrology and astronomy are “completely different systems.” He explained that astronomy is a science based on observation, measurement, and mathematical models, while astrology is a belief system that interprets human behavior and destiny through symbolic meanings of celestial positions.

The viral claim also revived discussions about a supposed “13th zodiac sign” called Ophiuchus, which some posts claimed should be added to the modern horoscope. Experts again dismissed this idea, noting that Ophiuchus has been known to astronomers since ancient times but was never included in the astrological system that divides the ecliptic into 12 equal segments.

Despite repeated clarifications from experts, astrology remains deeply popular across social media, especially among younger audiences who use it as a form of self-expression and reflection. Scientists, however, continue to encourage media literacy and critical thinking when encountering claims that blend science and belief.

“Precession is real,” said astronomer Dr. Lisa Harvey-Smith, “but it doesn’t mean your zodiac sign has changed. It’s a misunderstanding of how the tropical zodiac works.”

As with many viral trends, experts urge the public to verify information from credible scientific and astrological sources before sharing.

May LPA na minomonitor, katamtamang ang tsansa na lumakas

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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May LPA na minomonitor, katamtamang ang tsansa na lumakas

MAYNILA -Iniulat ng DOST-PAGASA ngayong Lunes kaninang 8:00 ng umaga, 13 Oktubre 2025, na ang low pressure area na tinatawag na LPA 10e ay nasa labas ng Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at may “MEDIUM” na tsansa na maging tropical depression sa loob ng susunod na 24 oras.

Ayon sa ahensya, ang sistema ay kasalukuyang malayo sa Pilipinas at hindi pa nagdudulot ng direktang panganib. Gayunpaman, ito ay sinusubaybayan dahil sa posibilidad ng pagbabago sa lakas at ruta. Dagdag pa rito, sinabi nila na may mga easterly winds na nakaapekto sa silangang bahagi ng Luzon at Visayas ay magdudulot ng maulap na kalangitan at pag-ambon sa ilang lugar. Maaari itong humantong sa localized na flash flood o landslide kung malakas ang ulan.

Ayon sa DOST-PAGASA, ng LPA ay nasa humigit-kumulang 2,540 kilometro silangan ng timog-silangang Mindanao, at may posibilidad na pumaloob ito sa PAR bandang 16–17 ng Oktubre kung ito ay gagalaw pakanluran. Subalit, nananatiling hindi tiyak ang oras at lakas nito.

“All are advised to monitor updates from DOST-PAGASA,” ang pahayag ng bulletin. Inanyayahan din ang mga lokal na pamahalaan at emergency services na repasuhin ang mga contingency plan para sa malalakas na pag-ulan, flash flood at landslide sakaling pumasok o lumakas.

Patuloy na magbibigay ang PAGASA at mga kaakibat na ahensya ng mga bulletin at update batay sa pinakabagong datos mula sa satellite, radar, at modelo ng panahon. Hinihikayat ang publiko na sundan ang opisyal na mga kanal ng DOST-PAGASA at ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) para sa pinakahuling forecast at abiso.Patuloy na magbibigay ang PAGASA at mga kaakibat na ahensya ng mga bulletin at update base sa pinakabagong datos mula sa satellite, radar at weather model. Hinihikayat ang publiko na sundan ang opisyal na channels ng DOST-PAGASA at ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council para sa pinakahuling forecast at abiso.

Israelis honor Trump as hostages return home after two years in captivity

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Israelis honor Trump as hostages return home after two years in captivity

JERUSALEM — U.S. President Donald Trump is set to receive a hero’s welcome at Israel’s parliament on Monday as a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, brokered under his mediation, enters its fourth day. The truce coincides with the long-awaited return of Israeli hostages and the release of Palestinian prisoners, signaling tentative progress in a conflict that has resisted resolution for decades.

Trump’s address to the Knesset follows two years of war triggered by a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people in Israel and saw 251 others taken hostage. In retaliation, Israeli strikes and ground assaults devastated the Gaza Strip, leaving more than 67,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza health officials.

“The war is over,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One before departing Washington. When asked about the region’s future, he added, “I think it’s going to normalize.”

The United Nations confirmed that humanitarian aid to Gaza was expanding, including the first deliveries of cooking gas since March, as well as increased shipments of food and medical supplies.

Despite Trump’s optimism, the destruction and loss of life underscored how elusive lasting peace remains. Further progress may hinge on commitments expected to emerge from a summit later Monday in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh resort, where Trump will meet more than 20 world leaders, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. No Israeli officials are expected to attend, Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said.

Bedrosian also confirmed that the remaining Israeli hostages would begin returning home early Monday, with 20 survivors released together, followed by the repatriation of 28 bodies. In exchange, Israel plans to release 1,700 Palestinian detainees, including 22 minors, and the bodies of 360 militants once all hostages are safely returned.

In Gaza, returning residents described scenes of catastrophic destruction.
“We couldn’t believe the devastation,” said Rami Mohammad-Ali, 37, who walked 15 kilometers (9 miles) with his son from Deir Al Balah to Gaza City. “We are joyful to return, but bitter about the destruction,” he added, recalling human remains scattered along the roads.

At Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Saturday, large crowds gathered to cheer Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, while loudly booing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when Witkoff attempted to thank him for his role in the ceasefire.

Trump will become only the fourth U.S. president to address the Knesset, after Jimmy Carter in 1979, Bill Clinton in 1994, and George W. Bush in 2008. In a letter inviting Trump, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana wrote, “The people of Israel regard you as the greatest friend and ally of the Jewish nation in modern history.”

Netanyahu, facing mounting criticism and legal challenges, addressed the nation on Sunday. “Tomorrow is the beginning of a new path. A path of building, a path of healing, and I hope a path of uniting hearts,” he said in a televised statement.

The U.S., along with Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, facilitated the ceasefire’s first phase, with Trump’s broader plan envisioning an international “Board of Peace” led by him and joined by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to oversee Gaza’s post-war governance.

However, several key issues remain unresolved, including how Gaza will be administered and the fate of Hamas, which rejects Israel’s disarmament demands. The Hamas-run Interior Ministry announced it would deploy security forces in areas vacated by the Israeli army. However, it was unclear whether armed militants would reappear a move Israel warned would be seen as a provocation.

Israel and Hamas continued tense, indirect negotiations over the list of Palestinian prisoners eligible for release. Hamas sources said Israel had reneged on an earlier agreement to include senior militant leaders. The Israeli Justice Ministry confirmed 250 prisoners convicted of murder and other serious crimes were slated for release, but excluded high-profile figures such as Marwan Barghouti and Ahmed Saadat.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that once the hostages were returned, the military would resume operations to destroy Hamas’s underground tunnel network.

Palestinian political analyst Akram Attallah told Reuters in Cairo that Trump’s peace plan heavily favored Israel.
“If they choose to backtrack, they can find excuses and blame Hamas. Meanwhile, Hamas, the weaker party, loses all leverage once it hands over the hostages,” Attallah said.

Fault line sa NCR, maaaring magdulot ng magnitude 7.1 lindol; MMDA handa sa malawakang Evacuation

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Fault line sa NCR, maaaring magdulot ng magnitude 7.1 lindol; MMDA handa sa malawakang Evacuation

MAYNILA — Ayon sa Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), ang fault line sa Metro Manila ay maaaring magdulot ng magnitude 7.1 na lindol kung gumalaw ang humigit-kumulang 100-kilometer long fault system na bumabagtas sa ilang lungsod at probinsya sa kalakhang Maynila at karatig rehiyon.

Kasama sa naturang fault system ang Bulacan, Quezon City, Marikina, Pasig, Makati, Taguig, Muntinlupa, Rizal, Cavite, at Laguna. Ayon sa pagtataya ng Phivolcs, maaaring mahigit 30,000 katao ang mamatay at higit 100,000 ang masugatan sa ganitong kalakas lindol.

Bilang paghahanda, hinati ng Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) ang National Capitol Region sa apat na quadrant para sa mas organisadong paglikas at rescue operations:

  • North: Caloocan, Valenzuela, Quezon City, San Juan, Mandaluyong
  • East: Pasig, Marikina
  • West: Manila, Malabon, Navotas
  • South: Las Piñas, Makati, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pateros, Taguig, Pasay

Magtatalaga rin ang MMDA ng operation centers at staging areas na magsisilbing evacuation sites para sa mga apektadong residente. Ilan sa mga itinalagang lugar ay ang Veterans Memorial Golf Course, University of the Philippines Diliman, LRT-2 Santolan Depot, Marikina Boys Town, Red Cross Marikina, Ultra Pasig, Intramuros Golf Course, at Villamor Air Base Golf Course.

Dagdag pa ng MMDA, ang mga athletic fields, sports arenas, memorial parks, simbahan, at gym na itatalaga ng local government units (LGUs) ay gagamitin ding evacuation centers sa Metro Manila at mga kalapit na probinsya.

Bilang alternatibong ruta para sa rescue at relief operations, magsisilbing daanan ang Ilog Pasig sakaling masira ang mga tulay sa Metro Manila dulot ng lindol, alinsunod sa Oplan Metro Yakal Plus ng Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Ang planong ito ay nakapaloob sa malawakang contingency measures ng ahensya para sa posibleng magnitude 7.2 na lindol na maaaring idulot ng West Valley Fault.

Ang hakbang na ito ay bahagi ng patuloy na disaster preparedness ng Metro Manila sa harap ng posibilidad ng malaking lindol na matagal nang binabantayan ng Phivolcs.

Isang opisyal ng barangay sa Quezon City ang nagpapakita ng marka na nagsasaad kung saan dumaraan ang West Valley Fault ng Marikina Valley Fault System sa kahabaan ng Batasan-San Mateo Road. PHOTO: MIKE DE JUAN

Hostages to be freed today as Gaza ceasefire holds

Venus L Peñaflor
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Hostages to be freed today as Gaza ceasefire holds

CAIRO — Israel announced on Sunday that it expects all surviving hostages held by Hamas in Gaza to be released “in a few hours”, marking a major step in the ceasefire deal reached last week. Meanwhile, Palestinians are preparing for the release of hundreds of prisoners from Israeli detention and a surge of humanitarian aid entering the devastated enclave.

“In a few hours, we will all be reunited,” said Israel’s military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, in a statement.

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Israel and Egypt on Monday to celebrate what he called the end of the two-year war. “The war is over,” Trump told reporters before departing, adding that he believed the ceasefire would hold and that he would be “proud” to visit Gaza.

Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian confirmed that all 20 living hostages are expected to be handed over simultaneously to the Red Cross, then taken to a military base to reunite with their families or receive medical care if needed.

Following the release, Israel is set to free about 2,000 Palestinian detainees and recover the remains of 28 hostages believed to be dead. Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for hostages and missing persons, said an international task force will work to locate deceased hostages not returned within 72 hours.

“The reality is, some of the hostages we may never get back,” said U.S. Vice President JD Vance in an interview with Fox News.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faced loud boos at a rally for hostages in Tel Aviv on Saturday, described Monday as a “path of healing.” Critics have accused him of prolonging the war for political purposes, a claim he denies.

The timing of the Palestinian prisoner release has not been confirmed. Those slated for release include 250 serving life sentences and 1,700 detained from Gaza during the war without formal charges.

A Palestinian official in Cairo, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Hamas negotiators are pressing for the inclusion of Marwan Barghouti, a widely popular figure considered a potential unifying Palestinian leader, along with others serving life terms. Israel has not commented, maintaining its stance that Barghouti is a terrorist leader.

Israeli authorities have reportedly warned West Bank residents against public celebrations following the releases, according to a prisoner’s family and a Palestinian official. The Israeli military has not commented on the matter.

The United Nations reported late Sunday that it has seen “real progress” in humanitarian efforts in Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of hot meals and loaves of bread have been distributed, and cooking gas has entered the territory for the first time since March. The U.N. said Israel has approved 190,000 metric tons of aid, up from 170,000, and aid deliveries are expected to rise to about 600 trucks per day under the agreement.

“Much of Gaza is a wasteland,” said U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher, noting that the agency has a two-month plan to restore essential services and clear debris.

Food distribution sites managed by the U.S. and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation are being closed, Egyptian and regional officials told the Associated Press.

President Trump, who helped broker the ceasefire, is expected to meet with hostage families and address the Knesset before traveling to Egypt to co-chair a “peace summit” with President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and regional leaders. Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority, will also attend, according to his adviser Mahmoud al-Habbash.

Unresolved issues remain, including who will govern Gaza after the war and whether Hamas will agree to disarm. Defense Minister Israel Katz said on X that he had ordered preparations to destroy Hamas’ tunnel network “through the international mechanism that will be established under the leadership and supervision of the U.S.” once hostages are freed, though details remain unclear as Israeli troops have pulled back from the area.

Palestinian civilians have begun returning to areas vacated by Israeli forces. Satellite imagery analyzed by the AP showed long lines of vehicles heading north toward Gaza City. Residents described scenes of devastation.

“It was flattened, just like everything else in Jabaliya,” said Mohamed Samy, who found his home reduced to rubble. “It was like the building never even existed in that place. I questioned my sanity.”

Armed police under the Hamas-run Interior Ministry now patrol Gaza City and southern areas, protecting aid trucks where Israeli troops have withdrawn. The ministry announced it would allow armed gang members uninvolved in killings to surrender and seek pardon starting Monday.

Rescue workers are still combing through debris in previously inaccessible zones. Health officials said 233 bodies have been recovered since Friday, when the truce began.

“For five months, we didn’t manage to recover the bodies,” said Yasser el-Bureis from Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, after his family finally retrieved the remains of two cousins.

Intensity 6 na lindol sa may Leyte; NDRRMC nasa Code Red alert

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Intensity 6 na lindol sa may Leyte; NDRRMC nasa Code Red alert

BOGO CITY — Niyanig na naman ng isang magnitude 6.0 na lindol ang karagatan malapit sa Bogo, Cebu nitong Lunes, Oktubre 13, dakong 1:06 ng madaling-araw, ayon sa Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Sa ulat ng ahensya, ang lindol ay tectonic ang pinagmulan at may lalim na 10 kilometro. Iniulat din ng Phivolcs ang sumusunod na instrumental intensities:

  • Intensity V – Villaba, Leyte
  • Intensity IV – Danao, Asturias, Argao City, Talisay, Cebu City, Cebu; Isabel, Leyte; Hilongos, Ormoc City, Abuyog, Leyte; Hinunangan, Southern Leyte

Ayon sa Phivolcs, inaasahan ang mga aftershocks at posibleng pinsala sa mga apektadong lugar.

Ang nasabing lindol ay naganap dalawang linggo matapos ang magnitude 6.9 na lindol na tumama rin sa Bogo, na ikinasawi ng hindi bababa sa 74 katao ang pinakamalakas na lindol na naitala sa hilagang bahagi ng Cebu.

Tatlong araw lamang bago ito, Manay, Davao Oriental naman ang niyanig ng magkakasunod na doublet earthquakes na may magnitudes 7.4 at 6.8, na nagresulta sa pagkasawi ng walo katao. Noong Sabado naman, ang Cagwait, Surigao del Sur ay niyanig din ng magnitude 6.0 na lindol, habang ang Cabangan, Zambales ay nakaranas ng magnitude 5.0 na pagyanig.

Sa harap ng sunod-sunod na lindol, nilinaw ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST) na karaniwan lamang na makapagtala ang Phivolcs ng humigit-kumulang 30 lindol araw-araw sa bansa dahil sa dami ng aktibong fault lines. Ayon pa sa ahensya, nagkaroon na rin sa nakaraan ng serye ng malalakas na lindol sa maikling pagitan ng panahon.

Kaugnay nito, inihayag ng Office of Civil Defense (OCD) nitong Linggo na itaas sa Code Red ang status ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center (NDRRMC) Operations Center.

Ayon sa pahayag ng OCD:

“Raising the status to the highest alert level required duty officers from the AFP, the PNP, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), as well as technical personnel from the DILG, DSWD, DPWH, and DOH to render duty at the physical operations center in Camp Aguinaldo. Other concerned agencies joined the emergency operations via a virtual platform.”

Ang Code Red alert ay nangangahulugang naka-full activation ang lahat ng response clusters upang agad na makapagsagawa ng coordinated response sa mga apektadong rehiyon.

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