3 h. ago Gaza latest: Israelis praise Trump for peace deal at massive Tel Aviv rally as ceasefire holds

Fragile truce allows Palestinians to return to their flattened homes after repeated displacements during nearly two years of Israeli war on the Strip

Politics

5 h. ago More than 500,000 people return to Gaza City amid ceasefire, as Steve Witkoff addresses Tel Aviv crowd – live

Palestinians return to destruction as US special envoy visits Hostages Square in Israel with Jared Kushner and Ivanka TrumpMalak A Tantesh, a young reporter who has contributed to the Guardian’s coverage, has written about a harrowing two years in besieged Gaza. You can read her account here:The Trump plan calls for Israel to maintain an open-ended military presence inside Gaza, along its border with Israel. An international force, comprised largely of troops from Arab and Muslim countries, would be responsible for security inside Gaza. The US would lead a large internationally funded reconstruction effort, reports the Associated Press (AP). The plan envisions an eventual role for the Palestinian Authority – something Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long opposed. But it requires the authority, which administers parts of the West Bank, to undergo a sweeping reform programme that could take years. According to the AP, the Trump plan is even more vague about a future Pale...

Events

13 h. ago EMILY THORNBERRY: 'Without President Trump, ceasefire in Middle East would not have happened'

Britain’s distinctive role could be using its expertise from Northern Ireland to make a meaningful contribution to peacebuilding, Dame Emily Thornberry writes for the Sunday Mirror

Politics

14 h. ago Trump says ‘there is consensus’ on next stages of Gaza ceasefire plan ahead of hostage release: Latest

The US is sending around 200 troops to the region to monitor the Gaza truce, ahead of a major transfer of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners and detainees

Events

16 h. ago Trump says ‘for the most part, there is consensus’ on next stages of Gaza ceasefire plan – live

US president adds Hamas were gathering the hostages now, as displaced Palestinians return to northern GazaAs Abdel Fattah al-Kurdi made the long journey back to Gaza City, he found himself getting lost. Though he left the city just a few weeks ago, he could no longer recognise its streets. The buildings he had grown up in between had collapsed, their contents carpeting the roads in a mixture of torn furniture and broken concrete.Al-Kurdi could only recognise the Netzarim checkpoint marking his entry into north Gaza by the bodies lying at its feet – those who had tried to return home too early, their faces obscured by dust after being cut down by Israeli fire. Continue reading...

Politics

19 h. ago Gaza latest: Palestinians return to rubble of Gaza homes after ceasefire brings fragile calm

Israeli troops withdrew to agreed lines earlier in the day as part of ‘phase one’ of Trump’s peace deal

Events

31 h. ago Gaza latest: Hamas thanks Trump for role in peace deal but says Tony Blair not welcome

Israeli troops withdrew to agreed lines earlier in the day as part of ‘phase one’ of Trump’s peace deal

Politics

33 h. ago Gaza latest: Tens of thousands of Palestinians return home as Israel says ceasefire is in effect

Israeli troops withdrew to agreed lines earlier in the day as part of ‘phase one’ of Trump’s peace deal

Politics

36 h. ago Gaza latest: Netanyahu says Israeli troops will remain in Gaza ‘until Hamas disarms’ despite ceasefire

Israeli shelling continued into Friday after the government ratified a ceasefire with Hamas, witnesses said

Politics

37 h. ago Palestinians begin journey to Gaza’s north as Israel says ceasefire now in effect – live

Thousands of Palestinians travel back to the north of the territory after IDF forces retreated to deployment linesIsraeli military has said that the ceasefire agreement has come into effect, as troops have now retreated to the deployment lines agreed upon.In a statement released on Telegram, the IDF says troops “began positioning themselves along the updated deployment lines” from midday local time. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago Gaza latest: Israeli troops begin withdrawal from Gaza ahead of Hamas ceasefire and hostage release

Israel says its cabinet has approved the 'outline' of a deal to release the hostages

Events

41 h. ago Gaza ceasefire plan live: Israel’s government approves deal for hostages’ release as US troops to ‘oversee’ truce

Ceasefire supposed to begin immediately after early Friday’s cabinet approval under deal, says Israeli officialIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner after a government meeting to approve the US-brokered deal to release all hostages and implement a ceasefire in Gaza.The Times of Israel reports that Gaza’s civil defence service has issued a warning to Palestinians not to approach the areas where the Israeli forces are present, particularly towards the border, until the IDF has officially announced their withdrawal and officials confirm this. Continue reading...

Politics

45 h. ago Gaza latest: Israeli cabinet approves Trump’s peace plan for ceasefire and hostage release

Israel says its cabinet has approved the 'outline' of a deal to release the hostages

Politics

54 h. ago Trump claims Gaza hostages will be freed NEXT WEEK as he readies for historic Middle East trip

LIVE UPDATES: Follow the latest developments as Israel and Hamas agree to the first phase of Donald Trump's Middle East peace deal with a ceasefire in Gaza set to come into effect.

Events

56 h. ago Trump claims Gaza hostages will be freed NEXT WEEK as he readies for historic Middle East trip: Live updates

LIVE UPDATES: Follow the latest developments as Israel and Hamas agree to the first phase of Donald Trump's Middle East peace deal with a ceasefire in Gaza set to come into effect.

Events

56 h. ago ‘Finally, a good morning’: Celebrations in Gaza and Israel as Trump’s deal is agreed

There are cautious hopes two years of bloodshed in Gaza could finally come to an end and the Israeli hostages freed

Politics

60 h. ago Hamas accuses Netanyahu of trying to 'sabotage' Trump's Gaza ceasefire deal hours before Israel approves plan: Live updates

LIVE UPDATES: Follow the latest developments as Israel and Hamas agree to the first phase of Donald Trump's Middle East peace deal with a ceasefire in Gaza set to come into effect.

Politics

61 h. ago A release of hostages and withdrawal of Israeli troops: What we know about the first phase of Trump’s Gaza peace deal

Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a fragile ceasefire - but questions remain, James C. Reynolds reports

Economics

65 h. ago Israel and Hamas agree to Gaza ceasefire in Donald Trump's Middle East peace deal: Live updates

LIVE UPDATES: Follow the latest developments as Israel and Hamas agree to the first phase of Donald Trump's Middle East peace deal with a ceasefire in Gaza set to come into effect.

Politics

65 h. ago What happens next after Israel and Hamas agree ‘first phase’ of Gaza peace deal?

US president Donald Trump announced the deal Wednesday evening, calling it ‘the first steps toward a strong, durable, and everlasting peace’. Bel Trew explains what may come next.

Politics