Good morning.
Israel and Hamas have agreed to the initial phase of a ceasefire plan in Gaza, pausing hostilities in the devastated territory and bringing the best hope yet of an end to a bloody two-year war that has killed tens of thousands, destabilized much of the Middle East and prompted protests around the world.
Donald Trump announced the agreement on his Truth Social network, saying all of the hostages held in Gaza would be released soon and that Israel would withdraw troops to an agreed line as the first step to a “Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace”.
Hamas said on Thursday it had agreed the US president’s proposal and confirmed the deal included an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a hostage-prisoner exchange.
What are the details of the agreement? The details and sequencing of remain unclear but the statement of purpose by Israel and Hamas is meaningful. The 20 hostages believed to be still alive in Gaza, and as many as 1,700 Palestinian prisoners, could be freed within 72 hours.
What about the thornier issues? It was not immediately certain whether the parties had made any progress on questions such as how Hamas will be disarmed, as the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has demanded, and eventual governance of Gaza.
Trump criticized for calls to jail Chicago mayor and Illinois governor as national guard arrives in city
Donald Trump on Wednesday called for the imprisonment of Brandon Johnson, Chicago’s mayor, and JB Pritzker, the Illinois governor. Trump’s remarks come as national guard troops have begun arriving in the Chicago area at the order of the Trump administration, despite objections from elected Illinois officials.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Pritzker said Trump was attempting to “justify and normalize the presence of armed soldiers under his direct command”.
The nearly 150-year-old Posse Comitatus Act limits the military’s role in enforcing domestic laws. However, Trump has said he would be willing to invoke the Insurrection Act, which allows a president to dispatch active-duty military in states that are unable to put down an insurrection or are defying federal law.
What did Trump say? He accused Illinois officials of failing to protect US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. “Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday morning. “Governor Pritzker also!”
Shutdown deadlock deepens as senators reject competing bills
The deadlock over ending the government shutdown deepened on Wednesday, with senators once again rejecting competing bills to restart funding as Democrats and Republicans remain at loggerheads over reopening federal agencies.
It came as union leaders for air traffic controllers and airport security screeners warned staffing shortages at airports would cause further disruption. Today is day nine of the shutdown.
What do Democrats want? Democrats are demanding that any bill to fund the government be paired with an array of healthcare-centered provisions, including an extension of premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act plans. Those credits are due to expire at the end of the year, raising the costs for the roughly 20 million people enrolled if they are not renewed.
In other news …
A 29-year-old man has been arrested and charged withstarting the fire that became the devastating Palisades blaze, which killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,800 structures in Los Angeles.
The man who carried out the terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester, the UK, last week pledged allegiance to Islamic State, police said.
The Oscar-nominated actor Saoirse Ronan is reportedly to play Linda McCartney in Sam Mendes’ The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event.
Stat of the day: Almost 55,000 children in Gaza acutely malnourished, Lancet study estimates
Almost 55,000 children in Gaza are estimated to be acutely malnourished, far more than have so far been identified as victims of the potentially lethal condition, a study published in the Lancet has revealed. The study shows for the first time a clear link between Israeli restrictions on supplies entering Gaza and levels of malnutrition among children.
Musk’s X settles lawsuit with ex-Twitter executives for undisclosed sum – over claims of $128m in unpaid severance
Elon Musk and X have settled with four former top Twitter executives, including the former chief executive, who accused the billionaire of failing to pay $128m in promised severance pay after he acquired the social media company in 2022 and fired them. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
Don’t miss this: The Japanese gen Zers attempting a two-hour limit on smartphone use
The authorities in Japan are taking action over excessive smartphone use. Last week, the city of Toyoake introduced a measure limiting use to two hours a day, to tackle addiction and sleep deprivation. There were resounding successes and abject failures. “It made my day feel more meaningful,” one person says.
Climate check: Illegal gold mining clears 345,950 acres of Peruvian Amazon
An illegal gold rush has cleared 345,950 acres (140,000 hectares) of rainforest in the Peruvian Amazon and is accelerating as foreign, armed groups move into the region to profit from record prices for the metal, according to a report from the Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Program and Conservación Amazónica.
Last Thing: ‘I carved until my fingers bled’ – inside the baffling world of pumpkin obsessives
Beyond just Halloween, pumpkins have muscled their way to the heart of the fall aesthetic. Fans of the orange vegetable are flocking to farms to pick their own, commissioning intricate lanterns and even dressing their children up as the gourds. How, Emma Beddington investigates, did the humble pumpkin become October’s overlord?
Sign up
First Thing is delivered to thousands of inboxes every weekday. If you’re not already signed up, subscribe now.
Get in touch
If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email newsletters@theguardian.com
