Closing summary
The Guardian’s live coverage of the crisis in the Middle East is coming to a close for today. Here’s a round-up of the latest key events:
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that Israel is preparing for an “immediate implementation” of the first stage of Trump’s Gaza plan for the release of Israeli hostages after Hamas agreed to release hostages and some other terms in a US plan to end the war. Trump said he believed Hamas had showed it was “ready for a lasting PEACE” and he put the onus on Netanyahu’s government.
Gaza’s civil defence agency said that Israel had carried out dozens of air strikes and artillery shelling on Gaza City despite Trump’s appeal for Israel to stop. Israeli fire overnight killed six people across the Gaza Strip, according to local authorities.
The death toll in the nearly two-year Israel-Hamas war passed 67,000 Palestinians, Gaza’s health ministry said. The death toll jumped after the ministry said it added more than 700 names to the list after data had been verified.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an ally of Hamas, endorsed the group’s response to the peace proposals, saying it represents the stance of the Palestinian resistance. It’s a move that could help pave the way for the release of Israelis still held by both parties.
A senior Hamas official said that Egypt would organise a conference for Palestinian factions to decide on the post-war future of the Gaza Strip. Egypt will host an “intra-Palestinian dialogue on Palestinian unity and the future of Gaza, including the administration of the Gaza Strip”, the official said.
Protests erupted across Europe today, with demonstrators calling for an end to the war. Tens of thousands of people marched in Barcelona, Spain, with demonstrations in Italy and Portugal too. Police arrested protesters at the Palestine Action rally in London. London and Manchester police called for protests to be delayed or cancelled after the terror attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Wednesday.
The Israeli military has been ordered to halt its campaign on Gaza City by its political leadership, Israeli army radio reported on Saturday, while it was preparing for the first phase of Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza and release all hostages, William Christou writes.
The orders came as the US president, Donald Trump, demanded Israel stop bombing Gaza late on Friday night after welcoming Hamas’s partial acceptance of his proposal to end the nearly two-year war in Gaza.
Despite Trump’s demands, Israel continued striking the Gaza Strip and besieging Gaza City on Saturday.
At least six Palestinian civilians, including two children, were killed in Israeli strikes on a house in Gaza City and a tent housing displaced people in al-Mawasi. Drones also targeted a gathering of people near a bakery in central Gaza City, killing “dozens” of people, according to Wafa, the Palestinian news agency.
Read William’s full report on today’s advancements at the link below:
Here are some images coming out of the various Gaza protests today:
Gazans have hailed the prospect of a ceasefire, almost two years into a war that has devastated the territory, AFP reports.
Smoke billowed over Gaza City on Saturday, yet for the first time in months, residents felt a ceasefire was within reach as they welcomed US president Donald Trump’s call for Israel to stop bombing.
“Trump’s announcement was very surprising to me, as he has always been biased toward Israel,” said 24-year-old Jamila al-Sayyid, from Gaza City’s Zeitun neighbourhood.
“The most important thing is that the ceasefire will take effect and the Israeli prisoners will be released, as they are a pretext for Israel to continue its occupation”, she added, referring to the 47 hostages still held in Gaza, including 25 the military says are dead.
For Sami Adas of Gaza City, it was a “day of joy, a great day”. The 50-year-old, who has been living in a tent with his family in the west of Gaza City, the focus area of Israeli military’s operations in recent weeks, said any ceasefire would improve his lot.
Further south, Mahmud Abu Shamala, a 49-year-old living in displacement in the so-called humanitarian area of Al-Mawasi, said that “this ceasefire is a dream I have wished to achieve for two years”.
He feared, however, that Israel would not abide by it once Hamas releases the hostages.
The South African government welcomed Hamas’ decision to release all Israeli hostages under the terms of a US plan for Gaza, urging Israel to reciprocate by releasing Palestinian political prisoners and children, Reuters reports.
“We welcome the decision by Hamas to release all Israeli hostages and its stated readiness for further engagement. This decision must be met with reciprocal action by the State of Israel”, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said in a statement.
In 2023, South Africa took Israel to the International Court of Justice, accusing it of genocide over its war in Gaza, an allegation Israel vehemently denies.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Hamas’s reaction to a potential ceasefire deal, and said the group was “ready for peace”.
“Hamas has shown, as it has done many times before, that it is ready for peace. Thus, a window of opportunity has opened for lasting peace in our region,” Erdogan told a ceremony in Istanbul, AFP reported.
There are protests across Europe today, with demonstrators calling for an end to the war. Tens of thousands of people marched in Barcelona, Spain, with demonstrations expected in Italy and Portugal too.
Police have begun arresting protesters at the Palestine Action rally in London. London and Manchester police called for protests to be delayed or cancelled after the terror attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Wednesday.
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UN rights chief Volker Turk has called Trump’s Gaza plan a “vital opportunity” to stop bloodshed in the Palestinian territory “once and for all”.
Turk hopes the momentum from the US president’s plan will “pave the way for a permanent cessation of hostilities, followed by recovery and reconstruction,” his office said on X as it urged a resolution “in line with international human rights and humanitarian laws, and the much needed two-state solution”.
He called the plan a “vital opportunity for all parties and influential states to pursue in good faith and stop - once and for all - the carnage and the suffering in Gaza, to flood the strip with humanitarian aid, and to ensure the release of the hostages and numerous detained Palestinians.”
Reuters reports that Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a hardline ally of Hamas that also holds hostages, has endorsed the group’s response to a US plan to end the war in Gaza - a move that could help pave the way for the release of Israelis still held by both parties.
Hamas’s own acceptance of the deal on Friday triggered a chorus of optimistic statements by world leaders urging an immediate cessation of the deadliest conflict involving Israel since its creation in 1948, and demanding freedom for the Israelis still held in the enclave.
A further possible boost to hopes for peace came with a supportive statement from Iran-backed Islamic Jihad, which is smaller than Hamas but seen as more hardline.
'We’re fed up with the war. We don’t want any revenge'
Efrat Machikawa, an active member of Israel’s hostage families forum and the niece of Gadi Moses, a hostage who was released in January, has been speaking about the need for an end to the war.
She said:
It’s time to end this horrific war and bring every single hostage back home. We are for rebuilding and the rehabilitation.
We’re fed up with the war. We don’t want any revenge. We want to concentrate on life.
Gaza death toll surpasses 67,000, health ministry says
The death toll in the nearly two-year Israel-Hamas war has passed 67,000 Palestinians, AP reported, citing Gaza’s health ministry.
The death toll jumped after the ministry said it added more than 700 names to the list after data had been verified.
It comes as Israel’s military said it is preparing for the first phase of a US plan to end the war in Gaza and return all of the remaining hostages.
From Genoa, Trieste and Ravenna in the north, to Salerno and Taranto in the south, in recent weeks port workers across Italy have succeeded in obstructing ships believed to have been carrying weapons for Israel, as opposition to the country’s war in Gaza intensifies, Angela Giuffrida writes.
The dockers’ determination to block weapons and stifle trade has been a crucial component of the pro-Palestinian uprising in Italy as pressure mounts on Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government to take a stronger stance against Israel.
Read the Guardian’s Rome correspondent’s full report at the link below:
In a post on X, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said it’s now time for Israel to “stand together” to secure the return of all remaining hostages from Gaza.
We are in decisive days for a deal—days that will determine when the living hostages return for rehabilitation and the deceased return for proper burial.
This is the hour when all of Israel must stand together and demand loudly: do everything possible to bring our brothers and sisters home.
The square is where we can all send a clear message together: Bring them all home and end the war! We will not stop until the last hostage returns. This is the time, the place, and the moment to prove that nothing is stronger than Israeli solidarity.
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Here are some of the latest images coming out of Israel and Gaza:
Who director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement posted on X that the World Health Organization welcomed Trump’s Gaza plan.
“WHO welcomes the peace plan for #Gaza proposed by @POTUS and supported by other countries for an immediate end to the war, the release of all hostages, the resumption of humanitarian aid, reconstruction, including of hospitals, peaceful and prosperous coexistence for Palestinians and Israelis The best medicine is peace.”
Here’s some more reaction from leaders to Donald Trump calling for Israel to stop bombing Gaza and Hamas accepting key points of a ceasefire plan:
In a statement late last night, UK prime minister Keir Starmer said: “Hamas’ acceptance of the US peace plan is a significant step forwards. We strongly support president Trump’s efforts, which have brought us closer to peace than ever before. There is now an opportunity to end the fighting, for the hostages to return home, and for humanitarian aid to reach those who so desperately need it.”
German chancellor Friedrich Merz said: “The hostages must be released. Hamas must disarm. The fighting must cease immediately. All of this must happen very fast. After almost two years, this is the best chance for peace. Germany will continue to engage.”
Irish foreign minister Simon Harris said: “This moment to end the unconscionable human suffering must be grasped by all. Stop the bombing, silence the guns, end the famine and allow a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
Jordan also welcomed Hamas’ positive response to Trump’s plan, calling it an important step to end the Gaza war, a ministry statement said, Reuters reports. Amman also praised Egypt and Qatar’s mediation, highlighted US efforts including opposition to West Bank annexation, and called for an immediate halt to Israel’s offensive, the opening of crossings for aid, and a peace process based on a two-state solution.
An Israeli official has told AP that Israel has moved to a defensive-only position in Gaza and will not actively strike. The official, who was not authorised to speak to the media on the record, said no forces have been removed from the strip.
The Israeli army said it was instructed by Israel’s leaders to “advance readiness” for the implementation of Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan.
Earlier it was reported Israel struck Gaza overnight, killing at least six.
Turkey said 36 of its citizens were expected to return home via a special flight on Saturday afternoon, after Israel intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
“We expected 36 of our nationals on the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels seized by Israeli forces in international waters will return to our country this afternoon via a special flight,” Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said on X, adding that the final number has not been finalised.
Hamas’ acceptance of keys parts of the US’ plan may raise the spirit of Gazans, who had watched one ceasefire effort after another fail as Israeli strikes pulverised the strip over the past two years.
“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive, it saves the people, and thank God that they (Hamas) agreed. This is enough, good people. We are tired, I swear to God, we are tired, tired,” Palestinian Saoud Qarneyta, 32, told AP.
Other Palestinians were cautious, expressing fear that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will ultimately withdraw from any plan to end the war.
“What is important is that Netanyahu does not sabotage this, because now that Hamas agreed, Netanyahu will disagree, as he usually does,” said Jerusalem resident Jamal Shihada.
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Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an ally of Hamas, endorsed the group’s response to US president Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza, saying it represents the stance of the Palestinian resistance.
Hamas has agreed to release all hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, as well as surrender governing power in the Gaza Strip, in accordance with Trump’s plan.
In a statement on Friday evening, the Palestinian militant group asked for further negotiations on other parts of the plan, and did not say whether it would lay down its arms – a key part of Trump’s proposal unveiled on Monday.
A senior Hamas official said that Egypt would organise a conference for Palestinian factions to decide on the post-war future of the Gaza Strip, after the group agreed to release hostages under a US ceasefire plan.
Egypt will host an “intra-Palestinian dialogue on Palestinian unity and the future of Gaza, including the administration of the Gaza Strip”, the official told AFP.
Responding to Donald Trump’s Gaza plan on Friday, Hamas said it would release hostages held in the territory, but did not address the issue of its disarmament and its exile from the Palestinian territory after the war’s end.
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Some more reaction from global leaders after Trump called for an end to the bombing in Gaza:
Australia’s PM, Anthony Albanese, wrote on X: “Australia welcomes progress on President Trump’s plan to bring peace to Gaza. Together with our partners, Australia will continue to support efforts to end the war and work towards a just and sustainable two-state solution.”
India’s PM, Narendra Modi, said: “We welcome President Trump’s leadership as peace efforts in Gaza make decisive progress. Indications of the release of hostages mark a significant step forward. India will continue to strongly support all efforts towards a durable and just peace.”
Canada’s PM, Mark Carney, said: “Canada welcomes commitments from Hamas to relinquish power and release all remaining hostages, living and deceased. We encourage all parties to immediately work to turn commitments into reality, and to advance peace and security in the region.
We stand ready to support the sustained, unimpeded, and large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza.”
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In a post on X, the IDF’s Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee warned residents in Gaza City that it remains a “dangerous combat zone”.
“Urgent Announcement and Warning to All Residents of the Gaza Strip
The area located north of Wadi Gaza remains a dangerous combat zone. Staying in this area poses a significant risk, and therefore Rashid Street remains open for you to move south
Defense Army forces are still surrounding Gaza City, where attempting to return to it poses an extreme danger
For your safety, avoid returning north or approaching areas of Defense Army forces’ operations anywhere in the Strip – even in its south.”
Reuters provides more detail on Israel striking Gaza overnight.
Israeli fire killed six people across the Gaza Strip, according to local authorities.
One strike killed four people in a house in Gaza City while another killed two others in Khan Younis in the south, medical workers and local authorities said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said early on Saturday that Israel was preparing for an “immediate implementation” of the first stage of Trump’s Gaza plan for the release of Israeli hostages following Hamas’ response.
Shortly after, Israeli media reported that the country’s political echelon had instructed the military to reduce offensive activity in Gaza.
The Israeli military chief of staff instructed forces in a statement to advance readiness for the implementation of the first phase of Trump’s plan, without mentioning whether there would be reduction of military activity in Gaza.
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Gaza civil defence agency says Israeli airstrikes and shelling continue despite Trump's appeal
Gaza’s civil defence agency said on Saturday that Israel had carried out dozens of air strikes and artillery shelling on Gaza City despite Trump’s appeal, William Christou writes.
“It was a very violent night, during which the [Israeli army] carried out dozens of air strikes and artillery shelling on Gaza City and other areas in the Strip, despite President Trump’s call to halt the bombing,” civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP. He said 20 homes were destroyed in the attacks.
Gaza City’s Baptist hospital said it had received casualties from a strike on a home in the city’s Tuffah neighbourhood, including four dead and several wounded while Nasser hospital in Khan Younis said two children were killed and eight people wounded in a drone strike on a tent in a camp for displaced Gazans.
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Donald Trump appears keen to deliver on pledges to end the war and return dozens of hostages ahead of the second anniversary of the attack on Tuesday, AP reports.
Here’s how the potential Gaza deal has been received:
Key mediators Egypt and Qatar welcomed the latest developments, and Majed Al Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar’s foreign ministry, said they would “continue discussions on the plan.”
A spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he “urges all parties to seize the opportunity to bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to an end.” French president Emmanuel Macron wrote on social media that “the release of all hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza are within reach!”
EU commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “Hamas’ stated readiness to release hostages and engage on the basis of the recent @POTUS proposal is encouraging. This moment must be seized.
An immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages are within reach. Europe will support all efforts aiming to end the suffering of civilians, and to promote the only viable solution for peace, the two-state solution.”
The main organisation representing the families of Israeli hostages said Trump’s demand to halt the fighting “is essential to prevent serious and irreversible harm to the hostages.” It called on Netanyahu “to immediately begin efficient and swift negotiations to bring all our hostages home.”
Israel preparing for 'immediate implementation' of first stage of Trump’s Gaza plan
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said that Israel is preparing for an “immediate implementation” of the first stage of Trump’s Gaza plan for the release of Israeli hostages after Hamas agreed to release hostages and some other terms in a US plan to end the war.
The Palestinian militant group on Friday issued its response to Trump’s 20-point plan after the US president gave Hamas until Sunday to accept or face grave consequences.
Trump said he believed Hamas had showed it was “ready for a lasting PEACE” and he put the onus on Netanyahu’s government.
“Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“We are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”
Netanyahu’s office said Israel “will continue to work in full cooperation with the President and his team to end the war in accordance with the principles set out by Israel, which align with President Trump’s vision”.
However the statement made no mention of Trump’s demand that Israel immediately stop bombing Gaza and witnesses said Israeli military planes intensified bombing in Gaza City after Trump’s statement.
We’ll bring you the latest developments throughout the day.
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