Israel and Hamas signed the first phase of the peace agreement for the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, which includes the release of hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops, following the plan outlined by US President Donald Trump, who announced the agreement and plans to travel to the region to showcase his diplomatic success.
The Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet this Thursday afternoon to approve the peace plan for Gaza that Israel and Hamas agreed to sign early this morning in Egypt. Israel says the ceasefire in Gaza will begin"within 24 hours" following the security cabinet meeting.
If this happens, Donald Trump announced that the hostages could be released next Monday, October 13, and reiterated that"Gaza will be rebuilt."
The agreement also proposes the disarmament of the Islamist group, Israel's gradual withdrawal from the enclave, and the formation of a transitional government in Gaza, with a view to future negotiations for the creation of a Palestinian state, a point that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out.
Follow live updates of the Hamas-Israel Gaza truce deal here.
- A spokeswoman for the Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed Thursday that veteran Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, imprisoned since 2002, will not be released in the planned exchange of Palestinian detainees for the 48 hostages held by Hamas during the ceasefire.
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- French President Emmanuel Macron called on the international community on Thursday to participate in the construction of a transitional security force for Palestine that would intervene when the peace plan adopted early this morning in Egypt is completed.
- Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said Thursday that the release of all Hamas hostages"should end the war" in the Gaza Strip.
- Israel said Thursday that all parties signed the final version of the first phase of the agreement with Hamas in Egypt for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
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- Thousands of Israelis gathered Thursday in a Tel Aviv square that has been gathering families of hostages held in Gaza for two years, hoping for the return of the kidnapped after two years of suspense. See full story
- Hours before the expected signing of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, the Civil Defense in the enclave warned the population on Thursday not to try to return to their homes in Gaza City, or conversely, leave the capital, in order to avoid encountering Israeli troops.
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- Ten Palestinians were killed, two while waiting for food distributions, and 49 others were wounded in Israeli military attacks in Gaza on Wednesday, a day before the ceasefire agreement was reached, the Health Ministry said Thursday. See full story Palestinian children celebrate the announcement of the truce in front of Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital in Gaza. Photo: AFP
- With shouts of joy, applause, and dancing, Palestinians in southern Gaza greeted the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, bringing an end to a war that left the enclave in tatters. A group of more than ten young people chanted"Allahu akbar."
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- Hamas political bureau member Mahmoud Mardawi said Thursday that the ceasefire with Israel is "the result of the legendary steadfastness of the Palestinian people, especially the mujahideen in Gaza." See full story
- UN teams are "fully mobilized" so their trucks can finally enter Gaza and deliver food and other essential goods, said UN humanitarian coordinator Tom Fletcher.
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- Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right leader, said Thursday that he opposes the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and warned that he would not vote for its implementation in the cabinet.
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- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez welcomed the agreement announced between Israel and Hamas on Thursday for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, and stated that he hopes that"this will be the beginning of a just and lasting peace."
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- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the ceasefire agreement for
Gaza between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas on Thursday, saying he hopes it will lead to a permanent political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, reported.
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- The Italian cardinal and Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, celebrated this Thursday the peace plan for
Gaza that Israel and Hamas agreed to sign this morning in Egypt, and expressed his hope that it will be a"beginning" that creates "another climate."
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- Palestinian Islamic Jihad said in a statement on Thursday that the ceasefire agreement in
Gaza "is not a gift from anyone," attributing the achievement of the truce to the armed struggle of the militias in the enclave.
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- The Israeli Army announced Thursday that it has begun preparations and is establishing a combat protocol to withdraw "soon" to the marked line for the first phase of its withdrawal, a statement said.
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- The Forum of Families of Hostages and Missing Persons, which represents the relatives of the majority of those kidnapped in Gaza, invited US President Donald Trump to meet with them in Israel on Thursday after promoting the agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
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- Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir ordered the army early Thursday morning to prepare"solid defenses" and be ready for any scenario in the face of the implementation of the ceasefire agreed between the Islamist group Hamas and Israel.
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