Saturday, October 11th's live news on the Middle East conflict. The United States rules out deploying U.S. troops to Gaza. The U.S. president also says there's consensus on much of the second phase of the agreement.

• After the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, in which 1,194 Israelis were killed and 250 kidnapped, Israel responded by decimating Hamas's leadership and structures in the Gaza Strip, killing over 67,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians. Among them were 19,000 children. There are 48 Israeli hostages still in the Strip
• On the night between October 8 and 9, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on the first phase of the peace plan proposed by the US. The agreement was approved by the Netanyahu government on Thursday evening.
  The document approved by the government includes:
  ​- The withdrawal of Israeli military forces along the yellow line, the proposed initial Israeli withdrawal line in Gaza.
  - The return, within 72 hours of the Israeli withdrawal, of 20 live Israeli hostages and the bodies of 28 deceased hostages    
• Israel has given UN authorities the green light to deliver aid to Gaza starting Sunday. The IDF has completed the withdrawal, but warned: It is dangerous to approach Rafah.
• Trump will be in Israel on Monday, the US president announced that he will send 200 soldiers and that the hostages will be freed by Tuesday. 

The hypothesis that the hostages will be freed between Sunday and Monday

Following the ceasefire's entry into force and the partial withdrawal of the IDF, the Israelis have begun moving Palestinian prisoners with long sentences to exchange for the 48 hostages, who could be released by Hamas as early as Sunday night or Monday morning. This is in time for Donald Trump's arrival in Israel and the official signing of the agreement in Egypt.

Meanwhile, 200 US troops have arrived in Israel to monitor the truce, although they will not be deployed in the Strip, the head of Centcom clarified. And for the displaced people returning to the ruins of the enclave, 500,000 so far, the UN has received authorization to resume sending aid, and the first trucks have arrived.

Israeli authorities have gathered the approximately 250 inmates who will be part of the exchange in two prisons. One group, transferred to the Ketziot penitentiary, will be released to Gaza via Rafah. Another, who will go to the West Bank, is being held in the Ofer facility.

Meanwhile, Hamas is also rounding up the hostages, Trump said. According to a CNN source, the kidnapped Israelis (about twenty of whom are believed to be still alive) are expected to be handed over to various locations with a timeframe yet to be determined. The 72-hour deadline set in the agreement is Monday at noon, but the exchange could take place several hours earlier.

Witkoff in Tel Aviv: I dreamed of this moment

I dreamed last night. US envoy Steve Witkoff said this while addressing the crowd at Tel Aviv's Hostage Square, ahead of the long-awaited release of the kidnapped Israelis by Hamas."It's a heartbreaking sight, it feels like there are almost 100,000 people here tonight, all of our hearts beating as one, gathered here in Tel Aviv for peace, unity, and hope in this sacred place we call Hostages Square," he added."Tonight we celebrate something extraordinary, a moment many thought impossible, yet here we are, living proof that when courage meets conviction, miracles can happen," continued Witkoff, who was with Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. Witkoff's remarks were interrupted by boos when he mentioned Benjamin Netanyahu.

7:40 PM | October 11

Hillary Clinton applauds Trump for Gaza deal

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton applauds her arch-enemy Donald Trump, who defeated her in the 2016 presidential election after a bitter campaign, for the ceasefire in Gaza, the result of his mediation efforts. In an interview with CBS, Clinton said she truly commended President Trump and his administration, as well as the region's Arab leaders, for establishing a framework to accomplish the task. American negotiators, she added, were able to capitalize on an opening that presented itself and were able to succeed.

7:27 PM | October 11

Boos from Tel Aviv's streets for Prime Minister Netanyahu

Steve Witkoff spoke at Tel Aviv's Hostage Plaza, before thousands of people. He was joined by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. His speech was repeatedly interrupted by boos when he mentioned Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu."I'd like to try to finish my speech," he attempted to say."This peace is a miracle. Your courage has moved the world," he added. The meeting was organized by the Forum of the Families of Hostages and Missing Persons, an organization representing the loved ones of those kidnapped and taken to Gaza on October 7, 2023, on the occasion of their release, expected by early next week. Hamas militants are expected to release 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive, as part of the ceasefire agreement with Israel.

7:17 PM | October 11

Media reports: Trump will be in Israel for four hours, meeting with Netanyahu and hostage families.

US President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to Israel on Monday will last approximately four hours and will include meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the families of the Israeli hostages, as well as a speech to the Knesset. Channel 12 reports that the tycoon is expected to land in Israel at 9:20 a.m. local time and depart at 1:00 p.m. Upon arrival, a brief ceremony will be held at Ben Gurion Airport before Trump travels to the Knesset, where he will reportedly deliver a speech at 11:00 a.m. Before his speech, Trump will meet with Netanyahu in the prime minister's office in the Knesset. The two leaders, the station further reports, will then meet with the hostages' families.

6:53 PM | October 11

Hamas: It's absurd to expel our members from Gaza.

The proposal that Hamas members leave the Gaza Strip as part of US President Donald Trump's peace plan is absurd, Hossam Badran, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said in an interview with AFP. Talk of expelling Palestinians, whether Hamas members or not, from their land is absurd and senseless, he said, emphasizing that the second phase of Trump's plan, as is clear from the points themselves, contains many complexities and difficulties.

If the plan fails and the war in Gaza resumes, Badran added, Hamas will reject Israel's aggression. We hope not to return to [war], but our Palestinian people and the resistance force will undoubtedly confront and use all their capabilities to repel this aggression if this battle is imposed, he asserted in the interview.

The senior official also said that Hamas will not participate in the formal signing of the Gaza peace agreement in Egypt next week, an event that Trump himself announced will also attend. The issue of the official signing... we will not be involved, Badran said, adding that Hamas has acted primarily through Qatari and Egyptian mediators during the ceasefire talks in Egypt.

6:34 PM | October 11

Witkoff and Kushner at tonight's demonstration in Tel Aviv

US President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will be the first speaker at tonight's rally in Hostages Square, alongside Jared Kushner. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum announced the news. The two, who led the negotiations that secured the first phase of the agreement, will first meet with the hostages' families. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend tonight's event in Tel Aviv.

6:22 PM | October 11

Hamas recalls 7,000 militants to Gaza after IDF withdrawal

Hamas has recalled around 7,000 members of its security forces to reassert control over areas of Gaza recently abandoned by Israeli troops, appointing five new governors, all with military experience, some of whom previously commanded brigades of its armed wing to oversee operations. Local sources told the BBC. According to reports from Gaza, armed Hamas units have already deployed in several districts, some wearing civilian clothes and others in the blue uniforms of the Gaza police. The broadcaster adds that Hamas's mobilization had been widely anticipated amid growing uncertainty over who will govern Gaza once the war ends, a key issue that could complicate the launch of the second phase of the Trump plan, which calls for Hamas's disarmament. A Hamas official abroad declined to comment directly on reports of the security force deployment, but said that Gaza cannot be left to the mercy of thieves and militias backed by the Israeli occupation. Our weapons are legitimate, they exist to resist the occupation and will remain so as long as the occupation continues.

6:17 PM | October 11

Italian military engineers proposed to clear Gaza mines

Removing landmines and explosive devices from Gaza, thanks also to the support of the Italian Army's military engineers. This is one of the options being considered regarding the presence of Italian soldiers in the post-war Gaza Strip. This information comes from informed sources, who say it all depends on the outcome of the talks in the coming days and any potential United Nations resolutions.

5:03 PM | October 11

Hamas official: Disarmament is out of the question

Hamas's disarmament, envisioned as part of US President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza, is off the table, a senior official from the Palestinian Islamist movement told AFP. The proposal to hand over weapons is off the table and non-negotiable, the official said on condition of anonymity. Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement in Egypt on Thursday, which entered into force yesterday. This agreement provides for the release of hostages held in Gaza within 72 hours in exchange for prisoners held by Israel. This agreement builds on a plan announced by Donald Trump at the end of September to end two years of devastating war in the Palestinian territories. The second phase of this 20-point plan, at the heart of disagreements between Israel and Hamas, concerns the Islamist movement's disarmament, the exile of its fighters, and the continuation of Israel's gradual withdrawal from Gaza.

4:26 PM | October 11

Al Jazeera: Gaza Humanitarian Foundation website dismantled

According to an Al Jazeera journalist present in the Netzarim Corridor, which divides the Gaza Strip from east to west, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) site that was present nearby was dismantled as part of the Israeli army's withdrawal from the area, as stipulated in the first phase of US President Donald Trump's peace plan. The Israeli withdrawal allows Palestinians to move between the northern and southern parts of the enclave.

Operational since the end of last May, the GHF has been harshly criticized for its methods of delivering humanitarian aid to the population, and hundreds of Palestinians have been killed near its sites.

3:52 PM | October 11

Trucks with aid are entering Gaza

The Israeli agency that manages the transfer of humanitarian aid (COGAT) told CNN that several trucks entered Gaza today, without specifying the number. According to COGAT, the trucks will primarily contain food, medical equipment, shelter supplies, as well as fuel for essential operations and cooking gas. Essential equipment for the repair of critical infrastructure will also be allowed in, it said. The World Food Programme announced that it has begun to intensify its operations. In the coming weeks, the WFO will increase the number of bakeries, it added.

3:35 PM | October 11

NYT, in the Sinwar bunker the memorandum of the October 7 attack

A six-page memo with attack instructions for the October 7 attack, written in Arabic by Muhammed Sinwar's brother and dated August 24, 2022, was found by Israeli intelligence in the bunker Sinwar used before his murder. The document, shared with The New York Times, was on a computer not connected to any network and called on fighters to target Israeli soldiers and civilian communities, as well as to spread acts of violence to destabilize Israel. The instructions were similar to instructions later issued on October 7 by Hamas and intercepted by Israel. The memo did not explicitly mention kidnapping and killing civilians, but instructed fighters to force their way into residential areas and set fires with gasoline. A few hours before October 7, a similar message was sent to fighters: Burn everything."I want the entire kibutz on fire," a Gaza City battalion commander said, according to Israeli intercepts collected by Unit 8200. The memo outlined a plan for a surprise attack on Israel, using bulldozers to breach the fence separating Gaza from Israel and sending in multiple waves of fighters. The document is supplemented by Israeli intercepts from October 7."Kill everyone you encounter," said Jabaliya battalion commander Abu Muath, urging them to take hostages—many hostages. Shortly before the attack, Abu Muath had asked the fighters to film the attack:"It is essential to bring in drones and film for the entire Arab world."

3:34 PM | October 11

Centcom chief confirms no US troops in Gaza

The United States will lead the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMC) that will support stabilization in Gaza, but will not have troops in the Strip. This was confirmed by Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, after his visit to an IDF outpost with US envoy Steve Witkoff. America's sons and daughters in uniform are answering the call to bring peace to the Middle East according to the direction set by the Commander-in-Chief at this historic moment, he wrote in a post on X. This great achievement will be achieved without US soldiers on the ground.

2:44 PM | October 11

Lebanon: Media reports one dead in Israeli drone attack in southern Lebanon.

One person was killed in a drone strike attributed to Israel that targeted a car near a public school in the Al Tabala neighborhood of the southern Lebanese city of Qalawiya, Lebanese state news agency NNA reported.

2:33 PM | October 11

Gaza: According to Civil Protection, 250,000 displaced people have already returned.

Thousands of displaced Palestinians continue to return to a devastated Gaza City on the second day of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas: 50,000 arrived today, according to the Civil Defense Department. Many are shocked by the destruction, while others breathe a sigh of relief to find their homes still standing. Taking advantage of the ceasefire, Raja Salmi walked back to her home in Gaza City, where weeks of Israeli bombing and ground operations have hit areas believed to be shelters for thousands of Hamas fighters."We walked for hours, and every step was filled with fear and anxiety for my home," Salmi told AFP. When she arrived in the Al-Rimal neighborhood, she found her house destroyed."It doesn't exist anymore. It's just a pile of rubble," she said."I stood there and cried. All those memories are now just dust." The flow of people returning continues, according to today's data released by the Civil Defense Agency, a relief service operating under the authority of Hamas."This brings the total number of returns to Gaza since yesterday to approximately 250,000 so far," said Mohammed Al-Mughayyir, an official with the agency.

1:18 PM | October 11

Ministry of Finance and National Agency for Public Administration (ANP): Public employees will receive only half their salaries tomorrow.

The Ministry of Finance of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA, based in Ramallah, West Bank) announced that tomorrow, October 12, public sector employees will receive only 50 percent of their July 2025 salaries, with a minimum payment of 2,000 shekels (approximately $611). In an official statement, the ministry confirmed that the outstanding salary arrears remain the responsibility of the government and will be paid as soon as financial conditions allow. According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, the PA government is facing a severe and prolonged fiscal crisis, primarily due to Israel's continued withholding of Palestinian tax revenues, funds that Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority under the 1994 Paris Protocol and which constitute approximately two-thirds of Ramallah's total revenues.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has imposed increasingly punitive measures against the PA in recent months. Beginning last June, Smotrich decided to withhold the entire amount of tax revenues owed to the PA, rather than making partial deductions as in previous years. This has further compromised the Ramallah government's ability to meet its financial obligations, including public sector salary payments. The financial shortfall has left tens of thousands of Palestinian public sector workers – including teachers, health workers, security personnel, and civil servants – facing months of reduced or delayed salaries, while essential services continue to deteriorate across the country, Wafa reports.

1:06 PM | October 11

Palestinian Media: Hamas Arrests Dozens of Suspected Collaborators and Members of Rival Clan

Dozens of suspected collaborators and members of anti-Hamas clans have been arrested by security forces affiliated with the Palestinian Islamist movement since the ceasefire with Israel went into effect in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian media reported that many of them will be executed. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect yesterday at 12:00 noon local time (11:00 Italian time). Subsequently, according to the Palestinian Information Center, a website that publishes official Hamas statements, some militants belonging to the group's internal security apparatus have resumed deployments in some areas of the Strip. Yesterday's demonstration was the first time since the previous ceasefire (which went into effect on January 19 and ended on March 18) that Hamas members were seen in public, according to The Times of Israel.

1:03 PM | October 11

Foreign Press Association (FPA) calls for Israel to immediately grant journalists access to Gaza.

With the halt in fighting, we renew our urgent call on Israel to immediately reopen its borders and allow international media free and independent access to the Gaza Strip. This is what the Foreign Press Association, the umbrella organization for international journalists working in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, is calling for in a statement welcoming the agreement between the warring parties regarding the ceasefire in Gaza. The statement recalls that for two years, the association has been requesting permission to enter Gaza and document the reality of the war. These requests have been repeatedly ignored, while our Palestinian colleagues risk their lives tirelessly and courageously reporting from Gaza. Finally, it recalls that the Supreme Court will hear their appeal on October 23, after more than a year of allowing the state to delay its response. But there is no need to wait any longer; the restrictions on the press must end, it concludes. Since October 2023, Israel has prevented international journalists from entering Gaza to cover the conflict, the Guardian reports today, explaining that only a select few are allowed in under strict military supervision on tours organized by the Israeli Defense Force. International media have relied on Palestinian journalists and media workers in Gaza for reporting, in addition to contacts with civilians, humanitarian agency staff, and medical personnel. 197 of these journalists have been killed during the two-year conflict, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

12:46 PM | October 11

Gaza: Hamas sources say Israel attacks despite ceasefire, 19 Palestinians killed yesterday

Israeli forces continue to attack the Gaza Strip even after the ceasefire in the territory went into effect. Sources at Gaza hospitals run by the Islamist movement Hamas reported this last night, citing the Palestinian news agency Wafa, emphasizing that 19 people were killed in Israeli attacks yesterday. According to the same sources, the bodies of 155 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces were recovered yesterday, 135 of whom were pulled from the rubble. Specifically, 16 Palestinians were reportedly killed in a bombing that hit a house south of the northern Gaza City, another in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood north of the same city, while the other two people were reportedly killed in an attack south of Khan Yunis, in the southern Strip.

12:10 PM | October 11

EU ready to contribute to reconstruction and aid in Gaza

The EU welcomes the agreement on the first phase of the Comprehensive Plan to End the Conflict in Gaza, presented by President Trump, to secure an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages. We note the agreement of all parties, including the Government of Israel. We call on all parties to fully and promptly implement the agreement, enabling the establishment of a lasting ceasefire, the release of hostages, and unimpeded access and the continued delivery of large-scale humanitarian assistance to Gaza and its wider region. This was stated by the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, who yesterday issued a statement on behalf of the EU. The European Union stands ready to contribute to the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan to End the Conflict in Gaza through the variety of instruments at its disposal, building on its long-standing commitment and substantial support for peace in the region. The EU will continue to support the rapid, safe, and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, working closely with UN agencies and international NGOs, and in compliance with international law. The EU stands ready to contribute to the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza, including through the full use of the EU CSDP missions EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS. The EU will continue to support the Palestinian Authority, including in its ongoing reform and in preparation for its return to Gaza, as well as through the Palestinian Donors Group, it adds.

12:09 PM | October 11

Hamas expresses gratitude to Trump for efforts to resolve war

Hamas is grateful to US President Donald Trump for his efforts to resolve the conflict in the Gaza Strip, said Basem Naim, a member of the Political Bureau of the Palestinian Islamic fundamentalist movement. Without President Trump's personal intervention, I don't believe the war would have ended. So yes, we thank President Trump for his personal efforts to intervene and pressure Israel to end this massacre, Naim said in an interview with Sky News. At the same time, the Hamas representative stated that he is unhappy with plans to involve former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in overseeing the region's post-war future. As for Tony Blair, unfortunately, we—Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims, and perhaps others around the world—have bad memories of him... We still remember his role in the killings that led to the deaths of thousands and millions of innocent civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq, Naim added.

12:04 PM | October 11

CNN: Hostage release possible between Sunday and Monday

The hostages could be released as early as Sunday night and are likely to be released in various locations across Gaza, CNN reported, citing a knowledgeable source. The timing of the release is not yet set and could change, but this would allow the kidnapped people—48 in total, 20 of whom are believed to be alive—to be freed before US President Donald Trump's arrival in Israel on Monday. The 72-hour deadline for the hostages' release is Monday at noon (11 a.m. Italian time).

12:04 PM | October 11

Hamas: Israel Changed 100 Names on Detention List

Israel changed nearly 100 names of prisoners it wanted to release. It manipulated the entire list in a cunning and sophisticated manner. This is what a Hamas source reported to Yedioth Ahronoth, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of turning it into a major political issue in Israel. The Palestinian militant group understood this, but had no choice.

11:49 AM | October 11

Syracuse: The government has demonstrated its authority and seriousness.

The Italian government's correct stance must be recognized, having clearly supported Trump's plan from day one. It would have been easier, as other countries have done, to make a symbolic gesture and recognize the State of Palestine, but this has had no concrete effect. Matilde Siracusano, Undersecretary for Relations with Parliament and Forza Italia MP, stated this in her speech on Agenda, on SkyTg24. Italy has instead chosen the path of responsibility: keeping channels of dialogue open, including with Israel, to truly help the children of Gaza, who are being treated in our hospitals, and to open those university corridors that have allowed many Palestinian students to continue their studies at our universities. Once again, the Italian government has demonstrated its authority and commitment.

11:48 AM | October 11

Trump:"Hamas is gathering hostages for release."

Hamas is currently gathering hostages for release, some of whom are in very difficult conditions. Donald Trump made this statement when he confirmed that he would travel to Israel on Monday to address the Knesset and then to Egypt for the official agreement ceremony, saying he was confident the ceasefire would hold because Israel and Hamas were tired of fighting. Trump then said that many leaders would be in Egypt on Monday to discuss the future of Gaza, affirming that there was consensus on the next phase of the Gaza plan.

11:46 AM | October 11

CNN: Hostage release likely overnight between Sunday and Monday

According to a CNN source, the Israeli hostages could be released overnight between Sunday and Monday and are likely to be released from several locations. The timing of the release is not yet defined and could still change, but this timing would ensure the hostages are freed before US President Donald Trump's arrival in Israel on Monday. The 72-hour deadline for the hostages' release is Monday at noon local time. Of the 48 remaining hostages, 20 are believed to be alive.

11:40 AM | October 11

Sanchez in Egypt on Monday for the agreement signing ceremony

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will attend the official signing ceremony of the agreement to end the conflict in Gaza on Monday, October 13, in Sharm el-Sheikh. The ceremony, scheduled for noon, is expected to be attended by the United States, major Arab countries, and several European countries, including Italy. The Spanish Prime Minister will be accompanied to Egypt by Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, according to government sources. Sánchez celebrated the agreement between Israel and Hamas, facilitated by the United States, expressing his hope that it would mark the beginning of a just and lasting peace. In pursuit of the two-state solution, Madrid recognized the State of Palestine in May 2024.

11:39 AM | October 11

West Bank: Israeli forces eliminate a terrorist in Jenin.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced yesterday that they eliminated a suspected terrorist in Jenin, West Bank, who had thrown an explosive device at IDF soldiers operating in the area. The statement, published by the IDF on Telegram, stated that no injuries were reported among Israeli soldiers.

11:16 AM | October 11

UN receives approval from Israel to begin aid operations in Gaza tomorrow.

The UN has received the green light from Israel to begin sending massive aid into Gaza starting Sunday, a UN official told the Associated Press. The aid includes 170,000 tons that have already been positioned in neighboring countries such as Jordan and Egypt. Over the past 24 hours, UN officials and Israeli authorities have begun discussions on the volume of aid that humanitarian organizations can bring and through which entry points. Humanitarian organizations such as UNICEF have said they are ready to send aid:"We hope all crossings will be opened."

10:57 AM | October 11

UNICEF: More than 56,000 children in Gaza have lost one or both parents.

UNICEF welcomes the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which offers hope to Palestinian children who have suffered through two years of a terrible war. UNICEF has more than 1,300 trucks ready to transport tents, food, essential medicines and vaccines, educational and recreational kits, water, and hygiene supplies. We have dedicated staff and partners on the ground who are making a difference in children's lives. All parties must ensure that UN humanitarian operations can resume immediately and safely on a large scale. It is crucial that the parties respect the terms of the agreement and ensure that the ceasefire is respected, maintained, and leads to lasting peace, and that all hostages in the Gaza Strip are released safely and with dignity. Two years of bombardment and fighting have caused catastrophic devastation across the Gaza Strip: an estimated 64,000 children have been killed or injured, and homes, hospitals, and schools have been destroyed. Essential services have collapsed, and humanitarian needs are immense. Famine has been declared in some areas of the Gaza Strip, and the entire population under five—320,000 children—is at risk of acute malnutrition. More than 56,000 children have lost one or both parents. All children have experienced traumatic events and significant disruptions to their education, according to a statement from UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

10:55 AM | October 11

Media reports:"Peace summit in Egypt chaired by al-Sisi and Trump"; Italy will be represented by Prime Minister Meloni.

Monday's ceremony for the signing of the peace agreement between Israel and Hamas will be co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and US President Donald Trump. Cairo media reported that the leaders of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Indonesia have been officially invited. Italy will be represented by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The summit, scheduled for Sharm el-Sheikh, was the focus of a preparatory telephone conversation yesterday between Cairo's Foreign Minister, Badr Abdel Aty, and his US counterpart, Marco Rubio.

10:25 AM | October 11

Media, transfer of Palestinian prisoners to be released has begun

The Israeli Prison Service has begun transferring maximum-security Palestinian prisoners scheduled for release under the agreement between Israel and Hamas. According to Kan television, prison guards and members of the elite Nahshon unit are transferring prisoners from various prisons to Ketziot prison, who will be released in Gaza through the Rafah crossing. Those released in the West Bank are being transferred to Ofer prison, the station concludes.

10:21 AM | October 11

Israel will not release two Palestinian doctors

Israel will not release two detained Palestinian medical officials as part of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Gaza, a Hamas source told CNN. Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a pediatrician arrested last year, and Dr. Marwan al-Hams, director of Gaza's field hospitals appointed by the Palestinian Islamic fundamentalist movement and arrested in July, will not be released from Israeli custody.

9:21 AM | October 11

Tajani, long phone call with Rubio, together for rapid implementation of Trump's plan

Italy and the United States are working together for the rapid implementation of US President Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza. This was emphasized by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, in a message on X, in which he reported a lengthy phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The two discussed the ceasefire in Gaza."We are working together for the rapid implementation of President Trump's peace plan, which also includes the prompt return of the hostages," Tajani said."I congratulated the US for the effectiveness of its action, a major political and diplomatic success," Tajani emphasized."Italy," Tajani added,"will continue its humanitarian commitment to assist the Palestinian population and will work to ensure Israel's security." The Italian government will be fully committed to working alongside the United States and other European and regional partners to help create the right conditions for stability."We are ready to participate with our military in a peace and security mission, and with our businesses to rebuild Gaza," the minister concluded,"starting with schools and hospitals."

9:12 AM | October 11

Around 200,000 people returned to the northern Gaza Strip on Friday.

The announcement of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas prompted thousands of Palestinians to flock to the Gaza Strip's coastal road, on foot, by bicycle, by truck, or by cart, heading north. Others returned to the ruins of their homes in Khan Younis, in the southern Palestinian enclave. According to the local civil defense agency, cited by the AFP news agency,"around 200,000 people" returned to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip on Friday."We are returning home despite the destruction, the siege, and the pain. We are happy even if we return to the ruins," Amir Abu Iyadeh, 32, told AFP before returning from the enclave. But for many of those who have already returned, the harsh reality of the situation has quickly become apparent."The damage is immense and indescribable; almost everything is in ruins and uninhabitable," Muhannad al-Shawaf, a resident of Khan Younis, told Reuters news agency, noting that it used to take him three minutes to reach a nearby road. Now it takes him over an hour to make his way through the rubble.

9:01 AM | October 11

Beirut condemns IDF attacks, saying civilian targets were hit.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned Israel's nighttime attacks, which hit civilian facilities and left one dead. Once again, southern Lebanon has been the target of a heinous Israeli attack on civilian installations, without justification or pretext, Aoun stated. The gravity of the situation is that it comes after the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. According to the national news agency, Israeli warplanes carried out 10 raids on bulldozer and excavator depots.

9:01 AM | October 11

Israeli Army: Hezbollah Sites Hit in South Lebanon

The Israeli army announced it had struck sites where Hezbollah was storing heavy equipment to be used"to rebuild its terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon," the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) announced. The IDF accused Hezbollah of operating in a manner that"posed a threat to Lebanese civilians and used them as human shields," while also stating that the "location" of the heavy equipment and its use by the Iranian-backed terrorist group violated the ceasefire agreement reached last November.

8:31 AM | October 11

Hamas insists with mediators on releasing detained leaders

Hamas is pressing mediators to release Palestinian prisoners whom Israel refused to release under the US-brokered deal, including Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat, and negotiations are ongoing. Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk told Al Jazeera. Israel rejected several other names put forward, he said. When asked if they included Abdullah Barghouti, Hassan Salama, Ibrahim Hamed, and Abbas al-Sayyed, he replied in the affirmative. The Times of Israel reports.

8:31 AM | October 11

Lebanon: One dead in IDF raid, Aoun condemns attacks on civilians

One man was killed and seven others were injured in an Israeli military attack in southern Lebanon, the Health Ministry in Beirut reported, specifying that the victim is Syrian. The IDF confirmed the strike, claiming it hit Hezbollah heavy equipment used to rebuild the pro-Iranian Shiite group's operational capabilities, in violation of agreements between Israel and Lebanon. Speaking from Beirut, President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli attack on civilian installations.

8:09 AM | October 11

US troops arrive in Israel to supervise truce

The first U.S. troops arrived in Israel overnight, part of a force that will help oversee the ceasefire in Gaza, ABC News reported. The broadcaster, citing two officials, said the total team of 200 troops will arrive over the weekend, flown in from the United States and other bases in the Middle East. Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), arrived in Israel yesterday. Officials said the U.S. personnel were expected to help establish a joint control center and then integrate all other security forces entering Gaza, helping maintain contact with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Some Egyptian, Qatari, Turkish, and possibly Emirati military officials will be integrated into the team, which is expected to be stationed in Egypt. Officials said no U.S. troops are expected to enter Gaza.

7:28 AM | October 11

Waltz: Seeing the kidnapped again is already a miracle.

After the past two years, the return of the hostages in a couple of days would be miraculous, as would a ceasefire... But there's so much we don't know. Michael Walzer said this in an interview with Corriere della Sera. It's hard to imagine a Donald Trump and Tony Blair government. There will have to be some kind of Palestinian administration, preferably led by the Palestinian Authority. I don't know if Israel has accepted such a thing, but it's hard to imagine the next step in a peace process that doesn't include some kind of Palestinian government with Egyptian and Saudi support. It seems the Biden administration had the right idea from the start about what should happen, but they weren't ready to apply real pressure on Netanyahu's government. Of course, it's also true that after the defeat of Hezbollah and Iran, it became much easier to put pressure on Bibi, but Biden was no longer there. In any case, I think the Biden administration wasn't tough enough. They were too aware of Israel's enemies, of Israel's precariousness after October 7th. I have a lot of sympathy for Biden's ministers, I think that Antony Blinken (the former Secretary of State, ed.) and the head of the CIA Bill Burns were part of an excellent delegation, but they were not tough enough, he says.

7:18 AM | October 11

IDF: Hezbollah facilities in southern Lebanon targeted and dismantled

The IDF has targeted and dismantled Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon, where equipment was being used to rebuild terrorist infrastructure in the area. This was announced by the Israeli military on Telegram. The terrorist organization Hezbollah continues its efforts to rebuild terrorist infrastructure throughout Lebanon, cynically using the Lebanese population as human shields, the IDF added. The presence of the equipment and Hezbollah's activity in the area constitute a violation of agreements between Israel and Lebanon. The IDF will continue to work to remove any threat to the State of Israel.

6:37 AM | October 11

Middle East: Media reports new aid to Gaza, Rafah crossing to reopen in days

New humanitarian aid and other essential goods, including fuel, will enter the Gaza Strip tomorrow, a senior Hamas official announced, according to Haaretz. Mediators have reportedly asked the Israel Electric Corporation to prepare to resume power supplies to the Palestinian enclave. The Rafah crossing is also expected to reopen to civilian transit in both directions by mid-next week.

5:54 AM | October 11

Lebanon: IDF attacks Hezbollah equipment depots in the south

The Israeli military said in a statement that it struck sites where Hezbollah was storing heavy equipment to be used to rebuild its terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces accuse the pro-Iranian Shiite militia of operating in a manner that poses a threat to Lebanese civilians, using them as human shields, and of violating the ceasefire agreement reached last November based on the location of the targeted equipment.

5:51 AM | October 11

M.O.: Hamas, we will not accept foreign domination in Gaza

Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine have issued a statement declaring that they will not accept any foreign rule in the Gaza Strip under the peace plan. Israeli media reported this. The Gaza government is a Palestinian matter, the militias stated in their statement, although they welcomed the commitment to reconstruction expressed by several countries. The Islamist movements emphasized that an agreement has so far been reached on the implementation of the first phase of the plan and promised to continue working for the release of Palestinian prisoners who will not be released under the agreement with Tel Aviv.

5:32 AM | October 11

Arab media: 19 Palestinians killed despite ceasefire

Nineteen Palestinians have been killed in the past 24 hours in ongoing Israeli airstrikes across the Strip, despite the announced ceasefire agreement, while one person died from wounds sustained in a previous attack, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. According to the same sources, 16 people were killed when Israeli warplanes bombed a home owned by the Ghabboun family in southern Gaza City. Two Palestinians were also killed in an airstrike south of Khan Younis, also in southern Gaza.

5:31 AM | October 11

Hamas insists Israel release Barghouti too

A senior Hamas official says the terrorist group is in contact with mediators regarding several Palestinian terrorist leaders whom Israel refused to release under the US-brokered deal, including Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat. This is according to the Times of Israel. The movement (Hamas) insists on their release, and negotiations are ongoing, Mousa Abu Marzouk told Al-Jazeera television. Marzouk says Israel has rejected several other proposed names. When asked if these included Abdullah Barghouti, Hassan Salama, Ibrahim Hamed, and Abbas al-Sayyed, he replied:"Yes. These are the most important names that the occupation always rejects." The statements came as Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine issued a statement saying they will agree to abide by the ceasefire and the hostage release agreement, despite Israel's refusal to release some of the prisoners they are demanding.

5:31 AM | October 11

M.O.: Palestinian prisoners to be exchanged begin to be released from prison

Israeli police have begun releasing Palestinian prisoners to be exchanged for Israeli hostages held in Gaza, as stipulated in the peace plan, Ynet reports. Hundreds of officers are transferring nearly 2,000 people from five different prisons to facilities where 250 life-sentenced prisoners and 1,700 Gazans arrested after the October 7 attacks will be released.

5:30 AM | October 11

M.O.: Trump, hostages home Monday, Hamas is rounding them up

The Israeli hostages held in Gaza will return on Monday, and Hamas is currently rounding them up, US President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. There are approximately 28 dead, some of which are being rescued as we speak, added the US president, who will visit Israel in the coming days, where he will address the Knesset, and Egypt. Everyone wants this deal to happen. There is consensus on the next steps of the plan for Gaza, Trump concluded.

5:29 AM | October 11

Media, a young Palestinian man killed in Jenin by Israel

A young Palestinian man was killed and a teenager was injured by Israeli forces' gunfire last night in the city of Jenin, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS). The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported this. The PRCS said its teams transported the body of a young man, killed after being shot in the abdomen and neck by live ammunition from Israeli forces. Local sources reported that an Israeli military unit raided several neighborhoods in Jenin, opened fire on residents, and shot and killed a young Palestinian man. The Health Ministry announced that the young man has been identified as Mohammad Adnan Salameh, 25. A 15-year-old boy also suffered shrapnel wounds to his legs near the cinema roundabout and was taken to the hospital by Red Crescent teams. With Salameh's killing, the number of Palestinians killed in Jenin governorate has risen to 50 since the beginning of the Israeli assault on the city and its camp on January 21, which also spread to several surrounding towns and villages. During the assault, Israeli forces completely destroyed more than 600 homes in Jenin camp and partially demolished approximately 1,000 housing units, displacing approximately 22,000 residents to the city and neighboring towns and villages.

5:29 AM | October 11

Trump: Gaza hostages to be released on Monday

Donald Trump confirmed that the hostages in Gaza will be released on Monday as part of the peace agreement reached. The official ceremony marking the agreement will be in Cairo, and Trump and many world leaders will be in attendance, the president said, expressing confidence in the ceasefire's stability and the reconstruction of Gaza.

5:28 AM | October 11

Media, settlers destroy solar plants in West Bank

Yesterday evening, Israeli settlers destroyed solar energy systems in Khirbet al-Farisiyah, a Palestinian village located in the northern Jordan Valley region, northeast of the West Bank, according to local sources reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Sources said a group of settlers broke into the community, vandalizing solar panels and cutting electrical cables belonging to a local resident. The northern Jordan Valley has witnessed a sharp escalation in settler violence against Palestinians and their property. These attacks include assaults on residential areas, intimidation of residents, physical assaults, destruction of property, blocking access to pastures, and attacks or theft of livestock.

5:28 AM | October 11

M.O.: Trump confirms visits to Israel and Egypt

Donald Trump confirmed he will travel to Israel, where he will address the Knesset, and then to Egypt, where other international leaders will also be present."This is a great deal for Israel and for everyone," the US president said speaking at the White House.

5:27 AM | October 11

Trump confident the ceasefire in Gaza will hold

Donald Trump says he is confident that the ceasefire in Gaza will hold."I think it will hold. Everyone is tired of fighting," the president said."Let's not forget October 7th; it was a horrible day with 1,200 people killed. Hamas lost 58,000 people, a great punishment," Trump added.

5:27 AM | October 10

M.O.: Trump, there is also a large consensus on phase two of the Gaza plan.

There is also consensus on much of Phase Two of the Gaza Plan, as Donald Trump stated in his White House address.

October 11, 5:27 AM - Updated October 11, 8:20 PM