Thousands of Israelis have gathered in Tel Aviv to welcome the last living hostages, who will be freed from Gaza on Monday.
The release of Israeli hostages is expected to begin at 8am local time from the Netzarim corridor and continue at 10am in Gaza's Khan Younis, according to reports.
Israel has warned against “any sick displays by Hamas” during the release of hostages. “We are expecting all 20 of our living hostages to be released together at one time to the Red Cross and transported among six to eight vehicles without any sick displays by Hamas,” spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has said that the war in Gaza has ended as he flew to Israel ahead of Hamas’ expected release of the Israeli hostages.
“The war is over, you understand that," he told reporters, adding that he believes the Middle East is “going to normalise”.
The ceasefire, which came into place on Friday morning, has seen Palestinians returning to their homes, which have been flattened by Israeli bombardment. Hundreds of bodies have been found under the rubble.
Key Points
- Trump says 'war is over' when asked about Gaza
- Hostages will start to be freed from 8am, according to reports
- Hostage release to begin early Monday morning, Israel spokeswoman says
- Starmer arrives in Sharm El Sheikh ahead of world leaders' summit on ending Gaza war
- Palestinian Authority President Abbas to attend summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, according to reports
Live: Thousands gather in Tel Aviv as Israel prepares to welcome the last living hostages from Gaza
04:07 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarComment | The people I spoke to in Hostages Square know Netanyahu faces a reckoning
03:00 , Alex CroftThe scene in Hostages Square, Tel Aviv, on Thursday afternoon was one of nervous relief rather than joy. There had been too many false dawns for anyone to start unbridled celebrations.
The giant digital clock, when I dropped by, recorded 733 days, 11 hours and 47 minutes since 251 hostages were snatched in October 2023. Crowds milled aimlessly around; reporters scanned their mobiles for updates; the merch stalls were doing good business for hostage T-shirts, coffee cups and keyrings. Two women took it in turns to hold a giant placard proclaiming: “We love Trump. He who saves just one life saves an entire world.” Well, perhaps.
I stooped my way through the “tunnel experience” – an art installation claiming to simulate the underground experience of the hostages – and paused to watch a circle of relatives quietly dancing and singing. A former hostage, Omer Shem Tov, cautioned the crowd against too much hope. “With all that joy, I have to say: it’s not over yet.”
Alan Rusbridger writes:
The people I spoke to in Hostages Square know Netanyahu faces a reckoning
Netanyahu spokesperson addresses moment Israeli prime minister booed at Hostages Square rally
02:00 , Alex CroftPalestinian prisoners and detainees to be released once hostages cross border - Israeli spokeswoman
01:03 , Alex CroftPalestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released as soon as Israel has confirmation that all the hostages set to be released tomorrow are across the border into Israel, an Israeli spokeswoman said.
Spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian did not confirm whether she was referring to the 20 living hostages, or the 48 in total including those who have died.
But based on answers to other questions, and given reports that not all of the 28 deceased hostages have been located in Gaza, it appears she was referring to the living hostages.
Palestinian prisoners and detainees will already be in the buses when the hostages are due to cross into Israeli territory, she said.
“Once the confirmation comes through that they have crossed into Israeli territory, those buses will start and they will begin their journey [into Gaza],”she said.
‘Everything is wiped out – there is nothing to salvage’: The bleak reality for Palestinians returning home after the ceasefire
Monday 13 October 2025 00:01 , Alex CroftStretching out to the horizon in front of Palestinian father of two Said is a breathtaking level of destruction few can imagine. The apartment buildings in this north Gaza city are so eviscerated that they have been reduced to dust. It is hard to even call it rubble – it looks like ash.
“This is the location of our home. Nothing is visible,” Said says, pointing to an indiscernible mountain of grey, with a deadness in his voice. “Wiped out. Evaporated. It is as if there were never a house here at all.”
As soon as the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect at noon Friday, Said, 34, was among the first to take the deadly risk of marching north to find his home. Displaced countless times since the start of Israel’s two-year bombardment and siege on Gaza, he had hoped to at least recover some precious items, like photos, from his home.
“When I came back today I expected my home to be a collapsed building that we could retrieve belongings from,” he tells The Independent, sending videos and photos of the scene.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians are taking the long march home to north Gaza, only to find ash and ruins, report Nedal Hamdouna and Bel Trew
‘Everything is wiped out’: The bleak reality for Palestinians returning home in Gaza
Trump wants to find out if Blair is 'an acceptable choice to everybody'
Sunday 12 October 2025 23:39 , Tara CobhamThe Independent’s Washington DC Correspondent John Bowden reports:
Donald Trump has said that he wants to find out if Tony Blair is “an acceptable choice to everybody”.
He told reporters on board Air Force One: “First, I want to find out if Tony [Blair] would be popular with all, because I just don’t know that – I like Tony, I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to find out that he’s an acceptable choice to everybody.”
Trump believes Middle East is going to 'normalise'
Sunday 12 October 2025 23:21 , Tara CobhamThe war in Gaza has ended and the Middle East is going to “normalise”, US President Donald Trump said on Sunday as he flew to Israel, which was waiting for Hamas to release Israeli hostages as world leaders were gathering to discuss the next steps toward peace.
"The war is over, you understand that," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he began a flight from Washington to Israel.
Asked about prospects for the region, Trump said, "I think it's going to normalise."
Watch: Moment Tel Aviv crowd boos as US envoy Witkoff thanks Netanyahu at Hostages Square rally
Sunday 12 October 2025 23:00 , Alex CroftTrump says ‘all sides cheering’ as he flies to Israel
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:33 , Tara CobhamThe Independent’s Washington DC Correspondent John Bowden reports:
Donald Trump has said that all sides are “cheering at one time” .
He told reporters on board Air Force One: “They had 500,000 people yesterday and today, in Israel, and also the Muslim and Arab countries are all cheering. Everybody is cheering at one time. That's never happened before."
Trump says he is 'not worried about anything' as he flies to Israel
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:30 , Tara CobhamThe Independent’s Washington DC Correspondent John Bowden reports:
Donald Trump has said he is “not worried about anything”.
As he flies to Israel on board Air Force One, the US president told reporters: “I’m not worried about anything. I think we have a great deal, and it's a great deal for everybody. You know, a great deal is a deal, where everybody is happy, and every country, they're dancing in the streets, that's a great deal. It's a unique, a unique period in time.”
Trump says he would like to go to Gaza as he leaves US for Middle East
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:28 , Tara CobhamThe Independent’s Washington DC Correspondent John Bowden reports:
Donald Trump has said he would like to go to Gaza as he left the US for his trip to the Middle East.
When asked about going to the Strip, the US president told reporters on board Air Force One: “I would, yeah. I'd be proud to....I'd like to do it. I'd like to put my feet on it, at least.”
German deputy leader signals lifting curbs of arms exports to Israel
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:23 , Tara CobhamGermany's Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil on Sunday signalled his government would lift restrictions on supplying weapons to Israel that were announced in August as a rebuke to Israel's expanding military operations in Gaza.
The remarks by Klingbeil to German broadcaster ARD on Sunday evening suggested a policy shift following the Gaza peace plan, with a ceasefire holding between Israel and Hamas for a third day ahead of a peace summit in Egypt on Monday.
"We will reassess the situation," Klingbeil said about the weapons exports.
Germany is Israel's second biggest weapons supplier after the US, and has long been one of its staunchest supporters, principally because of historical guilt for the Nazi Holocaust – a policy known as the "Staatsraison".
In August, however, Germany suspended exports of weaponry that could be used in the Gaza Strip because of Israel's plan to expand its operations there – the first time united Germany had acknowledged denying military support to its long-time ally. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to travel to Egypt to participate in the signing ceremony for the peace plan.
Trump says 'war is over' when asked about Gaza
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:22 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has said the “war is over” when asked about Gaza.
The US president also promised “it’s going to be fine” and outlined that a “board of peace” will be set up quickly for the Strip, which he described as “like a demolition site”.
Canadian PM Carney to head to Egypt for summit on ending war in Gaza
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:06 , Tara CobhamCanadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt for a world leaders' summit on ending Israel's war in Gaza, his office said on Sunday.
UK pledges $27 million in latest aid package for Gaza
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:05 , Tara CobhamBritain will provide a £20 million ($27 million) aid package to deliver water, sanitation and hygiene services in Gaza, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday, as he arrived in Egypt for a world leaders' summit on ending the conflict.
Britain said the funding would be delivered through UNICEF, the World Food Programme and the Norwegian Refugee Council and was designed to reach those facing famine, malnutrition and disease.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas held in Gaza for a third day on Sunday – part of the first phase of an agreement to end the war after two years.
Britain said it would also host a three-day summit on the reconstruction of Gaza that would include international government representatives, private sector and development finance representatives, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank.
Britain said this financial year it had given £74 million in humanitarian support to Palestine, which it formally recognised as a state last month.
Starmer arrives in Sharm El Sheikh ahead of world leaders' summit on ending Gaza war
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:03 , Tara CobhamBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in Sharm El Sheikh.
A world leaders’ summit on ending the Gaza war is set to be held in the Egyptian city on Monday.
Trump seeking return to Abraham Accords after Gaza ceasefire
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:02 , Alex CroftThe White House has signalled that Donald Trump is looking to quickly return attention to building on a first-term effort known as the Abraham Accords, which forged diplomatic and commercial ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.
A permanent agreement in Gaza would help pave the path for Trump to begin talks with Saudi Arabia as well Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country, toward normalizing ties with Israel, according to a senior Trump administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity.
Such a deal with Saudi Arabia, the most powerful and wealthy Arab state, has the potential to reshape the region and boost Israel's standing in historic ways.
But brokering such an agreement remains a heavy lift as the kingdom has said it won't officially recognize Israel before a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hostages will start to be freed from 8am, according to reports
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:00 , Tara CobhamThe Israeli hostages will start to be freed from 8am local time (6am UK time) on Monday morning, according to reports.
Hamas will release an initial group, then another group one hour later, Sky News reported, citing local media, including reports made by the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation.
Officially, Israel has only said that the hostages should be freed “in a few hours”, meaning sometime early Monday morning.
Trump leaves for his trip to Israel and Egypt
Sunday 12 October 2025 21:49 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has left for his trip to Israel and Egypt.
The US President was seen boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
Trump says his trip to the Middle East is going to be a 'very special event'
Sunday 12 October 2025 21:46 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has said his trip to the Middle East is going to be a “very special event”.
Speaking to reporters ahead of travelling to Israel, the US president also said: “We're going to have an amazing time... This is going to be a very special time. Everybody is very excited about this moment in time.”
He added that “everybody is cheering at one time” in a reference to Arab states and Israel. “It's going to be something that's never happened before.”
Herzog: As soon as hostages return, Israel is not going to war
Sunday 12 October 2025 21:00 , Alex CroftAround 9,500 Palestinians known to be missing in Gaza strip, say local authorities
Sunday 12 October 2025 20:00 , Alex CroftCivil authorities in the Gaza Strip have said there are believed to be around 9,500 Palestinians currently missing, Wafa news agency reported.
It comes as rescuers begin sifting through the rubble in areas of the strip which were hard to reach due to Israel’s invasion and bombardment of the strip.
Hundreds of bodies have been recovered from the rubble since the ceasefire came into effect on Friday morning, medics and emergency workers in the strip say.
Netanyahu also warns 'the campaign is not over'
Sunday 12 October 2025 19:06 , Tara CobhamBut Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also warned that “the campaign is not over”.
He said: “There are still very great security challenges ahead of us.
“Some of our enemies are trying to rebuild themselves to attack us again. And as we say – ‘We’re on it.’”
Netanyahu anticipates 'historic' return of hostages
Sunday 12 October 2025 19:03 , Tara CobhamIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the expected return of the hostages on Monday as a “historic event”.
In a statement issued on Sunday evening, he said: “Citizens of Israel, my brothers and sisters, this is an emotional evening, an evening of tears, an evening of joy. Because tomorrow, children will return to their border. This is a historic event.”
He told of meeting with the hostages’ families and seeing “their pain, their yearning, their tears”.
He said: “These meetings were with me in every decision I made during the war. We embraced the families, and I promised them: ‘I will not rest until I bring your loved ones back.’”
He described Monday as “the beginning of a new path”, adding: “A path of building, a path of healing, and I hope – a path of uniting hearts.”
‘Our nightmare is coming to an end’: Trump flies to Israel to push through last critical hours of Gaza ceasefire
Sunday 12 October 2025 19:00 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump is en route to Israel and Egypt to oversee the critical hours of a Gaza ceasefire he helped broker, as relatives of hostages “held their breath” ahead of their expected release
For the first time, Hamas militants have agreed to release all 48 remaining hostages - 20 alive, 26 confirmed dead, and two whose lives were “serious danger” with an unknown status. The deadline for Hamas to return the captives who have been held for two years expires at midday Monday (10am BST).
Shortly afterwards, 1,700 Palestinians detained from Gaza since October 2023 and 250 more serving life sentences will be released from Israeli detention. The bodies of 360 Palestinians Israel is holding will also be returned.
The Independent’s chief international correspondent Bel Trew reports:
Trump flies to Israel and Egypt to push through last critical hours of Gaza ceasefire
Palestinian Authority President Abbas to attend summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Axios reports
Sunday 12 October 2025 18:36 , Tara CobhamPalestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will attend a summit to finalise an agreement aimed at ending the war in Gaza, an Axios reporter said on X on Sunday, citing a senior Palestinian official.
The summit, which will be attended by US President Donald Trump, will be held in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday.
In pictures: Palestinians rally as aid arrives in Gaza on Sunday
Sunday 12 October 2025 18:00 , Alex Croft
Hamas rejects BBC reports regarding recall of 7,000 fighters
Sunday 12 October 2025 17:00 , Alex CroftHamas has rejected claims by the BBC that it has recalled 7,000 fighters which have been deployed in the streets to regain control of the parts of Gaza which the Israeli military has withdrawn from.
The BBC reported that the militant group has recalled the members of its security forces in a bid to reassert control over areas of the Strip that Israeli troops have recently left, citing local sources.
It said five new governors with military backgrounds were appointed.
In a statement, Gaza’s Government Media Office described the claims as “false and baseless” and said they “reflect deliberate misinformation and false narratives intended to mislead the public”.
The office demanded that international media refer to official authorities in Gaza before publishing “such unverified allegations”.
Netanyahu spokesperson defends Israeli PM after poor reception at hostages square
Sunday 12 October 2025 16:01 , Alex CroftA spokesperson for Benjamin Netanyahu has defended the Israeli prime minister after his name was booed when mentioned by US envoy Steve Witkoff in hostages square on Saturday evening.
” Prime Minister Netanyahu has gotten us to this point. In cooperation, coordination with President Trump,” said Shosh Bedrosian.
“This is why we are here today waiting for our hostages to return home through military, through diplomatic pressure. Prime Minister Netanyahu took risks and those risks led us to this point.
“The first phase of this plan is releasing all of our hostages, and that was a dedication and a promise he made to those families.
“And here I am standing today telling you that the Prime Minister is following through. Following through on that promise.”
She had earlier said he is on the “brink of fulfilling a moral, human and Jewish obligation of bringing the innocent hostages back home”.
Watch: Nadine Dorries praises Donald Trump for Gaza peace deal
Sunday 12 October 2025 15:00 , Alex CroftStarmer to fly to Egypt for summit to mark Gaza peace plan
Sunday 12 October 2025 14:45 , Alex CroftSir Keir Starmer will fly to an international peace summit in Egypt as part of efforts to secure the fragile ceasefire agreed in Gaza.
The Prime Minister is expected to pay “particular tribute” to Donald Trump, who is also reportedly due to attend the gathering, and the diplomatic work of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, Downing Street said.
A “signing ceremony” for the Gaza peace plan will take place at the event to mark a turning point for the Middle East after the two-year war, No 10 said.
The US president’s 20-point plan calls for Israel to maintain an open-ended military presence inside Gaza, along its border with Israel.
Read the full report here:
Phillipson refuses to say whether Tony Blair consulted Starmer before accepting 'Board of Peace' role
Sunday 12 October 2025 14:28 , Alex CroftOur political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Bridget Phillipson has refused to say whether or not Tony Blair consulted the prime minister before agreeing to take a role on the "board of peace".
Under Donald Trump's plan for peace, Sir Tony would form part of an international supervisory body that would govern Gaza.
Asked whether the former prime minister consulted Sir Keir Starmer before accepting the role, Ms Phillipson told Sky News: "I'm afraid I simply can't answer that question. What I do know is that what happens in the next phase of the peace process that needs to take place will be a matter for the American and the Israelis and for others."
Palestinian prisoners and detainees to be released once hostages cross border - Israeli spokeswoman
Sunday 12 October 2025 13:57 , Alex CroftPalestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released as soon as Israel has confirmation that all the hostages set to be released tomorrow are across the border into Israel, an Israeli spokeswoman said.
Spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian did not confirm whether she was referring to the 20 living hostages, or the 48 in total including those who have died.
But based on answers to other questions, and given reports that not all of the 28 deceased hostages have been located in Gaza, it appears she was referring to the living hostages.
Palestinian prisoners and detainees will already be in the buses when the hostages are due to cross into Israeli territory, she said.
“Once the confirmation comes through that they have crossed into Israeli territory, those buses will start and they will begin their journey [into Gaza],”she said.
International committee will help find bodies of dead hostages - Israeli spokeswoman
Sunday 12 October 2025 13:49 , Alex CroftOur chief international correspondent Bel Trew has put a question to Israeli spokeswoman, Shosh Bedrosian.
She asked whether a failure by Hamas to hand over the bodies of all the dead hostages before the deadline tomorrow morning would constitute a violation of the deal, in Israel’s view.
It comes amid reports that Hamas is unsure where some of the bodies of the dead hostages are, with international efforts to locate them set to get underway.
“Israel is committed to this plan that was signed off on, all 48 of our hostages will be returning back to Israel,” whether they are alive or deceased,” Bedrosian said.
She then appeared to suggest that Israel would not treat it as a violation of the ceasefire.
“There is this international committee that will be finding and helping locate hostages bodies if they are not released tomorrow,” she said.
Hostage release to begin early Monday morning, Israel PM spokeswoman says
Sunday 12 October 2025 13:38 , Alex CroftWe’re hearing from Benjamin Netanyahu's spokeswoman, Shosh Bedrosian.
She says the hostage release will take place early Monday morning.
“Israel is prepared and is ready to immediately receive all of our hostages. The release of our hostages will begin early Monday morning.
“We are expecting all 20 of our living hostages to be released together at one time to the Red Cross and transported among six to eight vehicles without any sick displays by Hamas,” she added, referring to previous handovers which were publicised by Hamas.
It brings clarity following growing speculation over the timing of their release, after US vice president JD Vance said on Sunday it would take place “any moment now”.
Netanyahu: Israel 'ready to immediately received hostages'
Sunday 12 October 2025 13:32 , Alex CroftIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel is “prepared and ready to immediately receive all of our hostages”.
Netanyahu has just spoken with the Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing Brigadier-General Gal Hirsch, according to his office.
Starmer has 'played no role whatsoever in brokering this very fragile peace', claims Priti Patel
Sunday 12 October 2025 13:23 , Alex CroftOur political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel questioned why Sir Keir Starmer is going to Egypt, claiming "he's played no role whatsoever in even brokering this very fragile peace".
She told Times Radio: "I do question what Keir Starmer will be doing going to Egypt because he's played no role whatsoever in even brokering this very fragile peace, even getting us to this stage.
"And quite frankly his approach to foreign policy for the Middle East has clearly been dictated to by his backbenchers and their demands for a two-state solution without any pragmatic detailed work behind that at all."
Vance: Hostages will be released 'any moment now'
Sunday 12 October 2025 13:20 , Alex CroftUS vice president JD Vance has said Israeli hostages are set to be released from Gaza “any moment now”.
It was initially indicated that tomorrow morning was the most likely time for the release, but it now appears that they could be freed earlier than expected.
Vance also said the US did not plan on putting any troops on the ground in Israel or Gaza., despite reports it is set to send 200 soldiers to monitor the ceasefire.
More than 150 deaths recorded in Gaza in past day, bringing total above 67,600
Sunday 12 October 2025 12:59 , Alex CroftA total of 151 dead bodies have arrived at hospitals in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
At least 116 of these were recovered from the rubble, as rescuers sift through areas which were previously hard to reach due to Israeli invasion and bombardment.
Another 72 people with injuries arrived in the hospitals.
A number of victims remain under the rubble the ministry added, with ambulance and civil defence teams as yet unable to reach them.
It brings the total toll of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza to 67,682.
Analysis: Iran is out in the cold as the Mideast unites in support of the Gaza ceasefire
Sunday 12 October 2025 12:30 , Alex CroftAnalysis brought by The Associated Press’ Gulf and Iran news director, Jon Gambrell:
As the Middle East broadly welcomes a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Iran finds itself at one of its weakest moments since its 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Tehran has operated its self-described "Axis of Resistance" over several decades, supporting militant groups and nations allied with it against Israel and the United States. But as Israel bombed the Gaza Strip, it also turned its crosshairs toward top leaders abroad in militant groups like Hamas, Lebanon's Hezbollah and even the top echelon within Iran's military and nuclear program — killing many and disrupting their ability to fight back.
As President Donald Trump prepares for a Middle East trip that likely will see him praised by Israel and Arab nations, Iran won't be at the table as it still struggles to recover from June's 12-day war.
How Tehran's theocracy responds in the weeks and months ahead, whether that means lashing out or trying to rebuild its hobbled economy at home, will be crucial.
"Undoubtedly this is a not a proud moment for Iran," said Ali Vaez, the Iran project director at the International Crisis Group. "Its alliance system in the region is in ruins but it doesn't mean that the 'Axis of Resistance' is no more."
‘Everything is wiped out’: The bleak reality for Palestinians returning home in Gaza
Sunday 12 October 2025 12:01 , Alex CroftStretching out to the horizon in front of Palestinian father of two Said is a breathtaking level of destruction few can imagine. The apartment buildings in this north Gaza city are so eviscerated that they have been reduced to dust. It is hard to even call it rubble – it looks like ash.
“This is the location of our home. Nothing is visible,” Said says, pointing to an indiscernible mountain of grey, with a deadness in his voice. “Wiped out. Evaporated. It is as if there were never a house here at all.”
As soon as the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect at noon Friday, Said, 34, was among the first to take the deadly risk of marching north to find his home. Displaced countless times since the start of Israel’s two-year bombardment and siege on Gaza, he had hoped to at least recover some precious items, like photos, from his home.
Nedal Hamdouna and Bel Trew report:
‘Everything is wiped out’: The bleak reality for Palestinians returning home in Gaza
UK played a 'key role behind the scenes' in securing Middle East ceasefire, says minister
Sunday 12 October 2025 11:29 , Alex CroftOur political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
The UK played a "key role" behind the scenes in securing a ceasefire in the Middle East, Bridget Phillipson has said.
"The prime minister's presence in Egypt tomorrow demonstrates the key role that we have played in moving towards the peace settlement that's now in place. We all hope that the ceasefire will hold.
"We all hope that in the next few hours, we will see the release of hostages who've been held for an unconscionably long period of time, and that through this process, we move to the next phase, where Gaza can be rebuilt, where humanitarian aid gets in, and we move to that enduring and lasting peace, where the Palestinian people can have their own state and live in peace alongside a safe and secure Israel", she told Sky News.
Pressed on what exactly that role was, Ms Phillipson said: "We have played a key role behind the scenes in shaping this. It's right that we do so, because it's in all of our interests, including our own national interest, that we move to a lasting peace in the region."
She added: "These are complex matters of diplomacy that we are involved in, but we do welcome and recognise the critical role that the American government played in leading us to this point. What matters now, of course, is how we move beyond this immediate end to the war, moving towards that lasting peace that we all want to see."
Watch: Ceasefire prompts mass departure from Gaza camps as families load vehicles
Sunday 12 October 2025 11:01 , Alex CroftHostage releases to follow same procedures as previous handovers
Sunday 12 October 2025 10:31 , Alex CroftThe hostage releases are set to follow the same procedure as previous ones, an official in the Israeli military has told the BBC.
In those transfers, the hostages were transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) by Hamas.
They are then handed over to the Israeli military, which takes them to southern Israel’s Re'im military base.
The freed hostages will be greeted by family members ta reception points, with whom they will travel to hospitals for further treatment.
The official told the broadcaster: "In case of urgent medical needs, the evacuation will be carried out directly to the hospital without stopping at the [reception] compound.”
Pictures lay bare scale of Gaza destruction as Palestinians return to flattened homes
Sunday 12 October 2025 10:00 , Alex Croft
The end of innocence: Greta Thunberg came of age (and people hate her for it)
Sunday 12 October 2025 09:29 , Alex CroftLast week, Greta Thunberg made a spectacular return to global headlines, this time not as a young climate icon but as a humanitarian, an activist and detainee speaking out. After Israel’s navy intercepted the Gaza-bound flotilla that Thunberg sailed on, she was held alongside more than 400 others before she and 130 detainees were deported on 6 October.
Back in Stockholm, the 22-year-old accused Israeli authorities of “cruel and degrading” treatment of detainees, who Thunberg says were crammed into tiny cages and denied essential medicine. Yet she also made a slight retraction: “I do not want there to be headlines about Greta being tortured,” she said. “Because that’s not the story here.”
It has never been that simple, of course, particularly when you’re Greta Thunberg. She was 15 when she began protesting, back in 2018, and now that she is in her twenties, she finds herself under new scrutiny.
Our special correspondent Zoë Beaty writes:
The end of innocence: Greta Thunberg came of age – and people hate her for it
Phillipson refuses to say whether Tony Blair consulted Starmer before accepting 'Board of Peace' role
Sunday 12 October 2025 09:12 , Alex CroftOur political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Bridget Phillipson has refused to say whether or not Tony Blair consulted the prime minister before agreeing to take a role on the "board of peace".
Under Donald Trump's plan for peace, Sir Tony would form part of an international supervisory body that would govern Gaza.
Asked whether the former prime minister consulted Sir Keir Starmer before accepting the role, Ms Phillipson told Sky News: "I'm afraid I simply can't answer that question. What I do know is that what happens in the next phase of the peace process that needs to take place will be a matter for the American and the Israelis and for others."
Recap: What's happened so far - and when will hostages and detainees be released?
Sunday 12 October 2025 08:59 , Alex CroftA long-awaited ceasefire has now been in place for two days, after Donald Trump pushed Israel and Hamas to accept his 20-point plan to end the Israeli military campaign in Gaza.
The truce came into place on Friday morning, and will see thousands of Palestinians return home to their homes, which have been left largely in rubble following two years of bombardment.
The Israeli military said it has “begun positioning” its troops along the lines detailed in the ceasefire agreement.
On Friday morning, a 72-hour countdown began in which Hamas must release all 20 hostages who are believed to still be alive. They must be handed over by 12:00 local time (10:00 BST) on Monday.
During this process, we expect to see the release of about 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails and 1,700 detainees from Gaza.
The timeline of the exchange is not entirely clear. There have been some suggestions that the first hostage releases could take place on Sunday, but most of the sounds coming from both Israeli and Hamas officials suggest Monday morning is the most likely time for the living Israeli hostages to be released.
In previous hostage handovers they've been collected by the Red Cross which has transferred them to Israel. It is also unclear how the final exchanges will take place.
We also expect to see about 600 humanitarian aid trucks entering Gaza daily from now on.
After this process has been completed, negotiations are expected to begin over the latter phases of Donald Trump's 20-point plan.
Starmer to join Trump and other world leaders at peace summit in Egypt
Sunday 12 October 2025 08:36 , Alex CroftSir Keir Starmer is expected to join US president Donald Trump and other world leaders at a peace summit in Egypt seeking to secure the fragile ceasefire agreed in Gaza.
The Prime Minister will travel to Sharm El-Sheikh for the gathering, which Cairo said would be co-chaired by the US leader and Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, on Monday.
A “signing ceremony” for the Gaza peace plan will take place at the event to mark a turning point for the Middle East as the truce enters its initial stages, Downing Street said.
Sir Keir will pay “particular tribute” to Mr Trump and the diplomatic efforts of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey in “bringing us to this point” before calling for “swift progress towards phase two”, No 10 said.
French President Emmanuel Macron will also attend, the Elysee Palace confirmed on Saturday.
EU Council president to attend Egypt peace summit
Sunday 12 October 2025 08:11 , Alex CroftEuropean Council president Antonio Costa will attend a peace summit in Egypt on Monday, an EU official said on Sunday.
Egypt will host an international summit in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday to finalise an agreement aimed at ending the war in Gaza.
Donald Trump will also attend the summit, while reports have suggested other world leaders may also be present.
Release of hostages expected to begin Monday morning
Sunday 12 October 2025 08:00 , Alex CroftThe release of Israeli hostages from Gaza is expected to begin on Monday morning, Hamas and Israeli officials said over the weekend, according to The Times of Israel.
Under the terms of the agreement, Hamas has been given a window of 72 hours to return the 48 hostages after an initial withdrawal by the Israeli military from parts of Gaza.
The Israeli outlet revealed a message by the government’s pointman on the hostages, Gal Hirsch, who told their relatives that “the process of releasing your loved ones — our loved ones, the hostages — will begin on Monday morning”.
He added: “Living hostages will be handed over to us, and it is expected that the remains of fallen hostages will also be transferred to us.”
Osama Hamdan, a Hamas official, told AFP that “according to the signed agreement, the prisoner exchange is set to begin on Monday morning as agreed, and there are no new developments on this matter.”
IDF warns they are 'ready for action' until all hostages returned
Sunday 12 October 2025 07:42 , Alex CroftThe Israel Defense Forces has warned they “are prepared for any development and remain present, ready for action until all our hostages return”.
IDF Commander of the 98th Division said: “We are prepared for any development and remain present, ready for action until all our hostages return. We will embrace the living and salute the fallen. Know that you are the heroes of victory; together, we will continue to fulfill every mission required of us.”
Thousands of people take part in pro-Palestinian rally in Sydney
Sunday 12 October 2025 07:16 , Shweta SharmaTens of thousands of people took part in a pro-Palestinian rally in Sydney’s central business district on Sunday, organisers said, after a court blocked plans to hold the protest at the Sydney Opera House.
The Palestine Action Group, which organised the rally, estimated around 30,000 people attended in Sydney, one of 27 protests across Australia including in Melbourne. Police did not provide a crowd estimate.
The demonstrations come as Israeli troops pull back under the first phase of a US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, following a war that has killed tens of thousands and left much of the enclave in ruins.
Amal Naser, one of the Sydney rally organisers, said:
“Even if the ceasefire holds, Israel is still conducting a military occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. The occupation as well as systemic discrimination against Palestinians living in Israel constitute an Apartheid system.”
Footage from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation showed protesters marching on closed city streets, many carrying Palestinian flags and wearing keffiyeh scarves. Police reported no arrests.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, representing more than 200 Jewish organisations, condemned the protest organisers. Co-chief executive Peter Wertheim said they “want the deal to fail, which would mean the war would continue.”
Families of 48 hostages meet US envoys ahead of historic Gaza prisoner swap
Sunday 12 October 2025 07:07 , Shweta SharmaThe families of 48 hostages met with special envoy for peace missions Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Ivanka Trump at Hostages Square, ahead of the release on Monday.
The families thanked them for their instrumental role in securing the historic deal to bring all their loved ones home.
During the meeting, Witkoff emphasised the United States’ unwavering commitment to the mission and continuing their work, not leaving anyone behind.
The families expressed their deep appreciation for the continued support and dedication shown by the US administration.
By Monday, Hamas is to begin releasing the remaining 48 Israeli hostages held in Gaza, around 20 of them believed to be alive.
Israel will release around 2,000 Palestinians, including senior militants convicted of deadly attacks, as well as people convicted of lesser offences and those held without charge under what is known as administrative detention.
About 200 US troops arrive in Israel to monitor ceasefire with Hamas
Sunday 12 October 2025 07:00 , Tara CobhamAbout 200 US troops arrived in Israel to monitor the ceasefire with Hamas.
They will set up a center to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid as well as logistical and security assistance.
"This great effort will be achieved with no U.S. boots on the ground in Gaza," said Adm. Brad Cooper, head of the US military's Central Command. Israel said Witkoff, Kushner and Cooper met with senior US and Israeli military officials in Gaza on Saturday.
Watch: Netanyahu praises Trump for peace plan for ceasefire and hostage release
Sunday 12 October 2025 06:00 , Tara CobhamAnalysis: Trump has been lavished with praise for delivering peace in Gaza – but did he really?
Sunday 12 October 2025 05:00 , Tara CobhamWorld leaders, diplomatic insiders, and much of the media are celebrating a ceasefire in Gaza calling it a “peace deal” and endorsing President Donald Trump’s now unsuccessful campaign for a Nobel Peace Prize.
US secretary of state Marc Rubio lavished praise on his boss, saying the turning point came when Trump convened meetings with Arab and Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
“The president had some extraordinary phone calls and meetings that required a high degree of intensity and commitment and made this happen,” Rubio said.
The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:
Trump has been lavished with praise for delivering peace in Gaza – but did he really?
New details emerge from copy of signed ceasefire
Sunday 12 October 2025 04:00 , Tara CobhamA copy of the signed ceasefire says Hamas must share all information related to any bodies of hostages that are not released within the first 72 hours, and that Israel will provide information about the remains of deceased Palestinians from Gaza held in Israel.
The photo of the document was obtained by The Associated Press and its veracity was confirmed by two officials, including one whose country was a signatory. Both requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks. The U.S. did not confirm whether it was authentic.
Hamas and Israel will share the information through a mechanism supported by mediators and the International Committee of the Red Cross. It will also ensure all hostages are exhumed and released.
The agreement says mediators and the ICRC will facilitate the exchange of the hostages and prisoners without public ceremonies or media coverage.
Israel is to free some 250 Palestinians serving prison sentences, as well as around 1,700 people seized from Gaza the past two years and held without charge. The Israel Prison Service said prisoners have been transferred to deportation facilities at Ofer and Ktzi'ot prisons, "awaiting instructions from the political echelon."
Many unresolved questions remain as a ceasefire holds in Gaza
Sunday 12 October 2025 03:00 , Tara CobhamA ceasefire was holding in Gaza between Israel and Hamas on Saturday after two years of war. But will the agreement lead, as U.S. President Donald Trump proclaimed, to “a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace”?
The deal took pressure on Israel and Hamas from the United States, Arab countries and Turkey. The war has devastated the Gaza Strip, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, sparked other conflicts around the region and increasingly isolated Israel.
The deal's first phase is meant to free the remaining hostages within days in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Read more here:
Many unresolved questions remain as a ceasefire holds in Gaza
Aid groups urge Israel to reopen more crossings to allow aid into famine-stricken Gaza
Sunday 12 October 2025 02:00 , Tara CobhamAid groups urged Israel to reopen more crossings to allow aid into famine-stricken Gaza. A UN official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet public, said Israel has approved expanded aid deliveries, starting Sunday.
The World Food Program said it was ready to restore 145 food distribution points. Before Israel sealed off Gaza in March, UN agencies provided food at 400 distribution points.
Though the timeline remains unclear, Palestinians will be able to access food at more locations than they could through the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which operated four locations after taking over distribution in May.
Some 170,000 metric tons of food aid have been positioned in neighboring countries awaiting Israeli permission.
Watch: Ceasefire prompts mass departure from Gaza camps as families load vehicles
Sunday 12 October 2025 01:00 , Tara CobhamAnalysis: Iran is out in the cold as the Mideast unites in support of the Gaza ceasefire
Sunday 12 October 2025 00:00 , Tara CobhamAs the Middle East broadly welcomes a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Iran finds itself at one of its weakest moments since its 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Tehran has operated its self-described "Axis of Resistance" over several decades, supporting militant groups and nations allied with it against Israel and the United States. But as Israel bombed the Gaza Strip, it also turned its crosshairs toward top leaders abroad in militant groups like Hamas, Lebanon's Hezbollah and even the top echelon within Iran's military and nuclear program — killing many and disrupting their ability to fight back.
As President Donald Trump prepares for a Middle East trip that likely will see him praised by Israel and Arab nations, Iran won't be at the table as it still struggles to recover from June's 12-day war.
How Tehran's theocracy responds in the weeks and months ahead, whether that means lashing out or trying to rebuild its hobbled economy at home, will be crucial.
"Undoubtedly this is a not a proud moment for Iran," said Ali Vaez, the Iran project director at the International Crisis Group. "Its alliance system in the region is in ruins but it doesn't mean that the 'Axis of Resistance' is no more."
Watch: 'Nobel President Trump' banner held aloft at huge Hostages Square rally
Saturday 11 October 2025 23:47 , Tara CobhamStarmer to attend Middle East peace summit in Egypt
Saturday 11 October 2025 23:34 , Tara CobhamBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer will travel to Egypt to attend the Sharm El Sheikh Peace Summit, where leaders are expected to sign a US-brokered peace agreement aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza, his office said on Saturday.
The first phase of the plan is set to begin with the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners by Monday, marking what Britain called a "historic turning point" after two years of war.
The British leader would pay tribute to the role of US President Donald Trump and the diplomatic efforts of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey in brokering the deal, his office said.
He is expected to call for continued international coordination to implement the next phase, which includes deploying a ceasefire monitoring mission and establishing transitional governance in Gaza.
Starmer will reiterate Britain's "steadfast support" to help secure the ceasefire and deliver humanitarian aid.
‘Everything is wiped out’: The bleak reality for Palestinians returning home in Gaza
Saturday 11 October 2025 23:00 , Tara CobhamStretching out to the horizon in front of Palestinian father of two Said is a breathtaking level of destruction few can imagine. The apartment buildings in this north Gaza city are so eviscerated that they have been reduced to dust. It is hard to even call it rubble – it looks like ash.
“This is the location of our home. Nothing is visible,” Said says, pointing to an indiscernible mountain of grey, with a deadness in his voice. “Wiped out. Evaporated. It is as if there were never a house here at all.”
As soon as the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect at noon Friday, Said, 34, was among the first to take the deadly risk of marching north to find his home. Displaced countless times since the start of Israel’s two-year bombardment and siege on Gaza, he had hoped to at least recover some precious items, like photos, from his home.
Nedal Hamdouna and Bel Trew report:
‘Everything is wiped out’: The bleak reality for Palestinians returning home in Gaza
