Hamas has set out its conditions for a deal to end Israel’s offensive on Gaza during the second day of talks in Egypt.
Indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian militant group are being held at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh and focus on a plan proposed by US president Donald Trump.
A US team, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, is set to arrive to join mediation efforts on Wednesday. They will also be joined by prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani of Qatar, who has played a key role in previous talks.
The talks on Tuesday, which coincided with the anniversary of the October 7 attack that started the war, ended with top Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya saying the group had come "to engage in serious and responsible negotiations”.
He said Hamas was ready to reach a deal, yet it needed a "guarantee" to end the war and ensure "it is not repeated".
On Tuesday, Mr Trump expressed optimism about the talks. Speaking at the Oval Office, he said: "I think there's a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East.”
Key Points
- Hamas sets out conditions to accept Trump-brokered ceasefire
- Hostage families demand explanation from Netanyahu over incorrect figure
- Israelis say it is time to end the war
- Italy's Meloni 'reported to ICC' for alleged complicity in genocide
- In pictures: Vigils around world to mark two years since 7 October Hamas attack
- Starmer brands protests taking place on 7 October anniversary ‘un-British’
Who is at the table for negotiations in Egypt?
Monday 6 October 2025 17:00 , Maira ButtAs indirect negotiations begin at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, we look at who will be taking part in the highly-anticipated discussions.
Israel’s delegation will be headed by top negotiator and Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who will join later in the week according to some reports. Hamas’ delegation will be lead by Hamas senior official and former deputy chairman Khalil al-Hayya.
Al-Hayya was one of the targets of Israel’s failed assassination attempts in Doha, Qatar last month.
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are also expected to join the talks, according to Egyptian state media’s Al-Ahram.
'Stopping the war is the most important step': Palestinians react to negotiations
Monday 6 October 2025 17:15 , Bel Trew“Stopping the war is the most important step that can be taken, as nothing can justify the continuation of the pain, and no goal is worth the loss of innocent lives,” Basel AlSaqa, a 32-year-old, father of two children, displaced in Al Mawasi told The Independent.
“A ceasefire in Gaza means that children’s screams can stop, mothers can sleep without fear, and people can see light instead of fire. Gaza has needed rest and security for many years because of the pain, separation, and farewells it has experienced.I desperately want a ceasefire to stop the Palestinian bloodshed.
“It is the most important thing for us, the people of Gaza, today. Blood and separation are the foundation of everything. When it stops, we feel a sense of relief. Every bullet that stops means a life saved, a child can wake up safe, and a mother can be reassured that her children are still alive.A ceasefire means that the land that has burned for so long can breathe again and that people can begin the journey of healing after indescribable pain.”
Hostage families urge Nobel Committee to award Trump Peace Prize
Monday 6 October 2025 17:30 , Maira ButtThe Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents the majority of hostage families in Israel, urged the Nobel Committee to award US President Donald Trump the Nobel Peace Prize.
They said that he had brought them “light through our darkest times”.
“At this very moment, President Trump’s comprehensive plan to release all remaining hostages and finally end this terrible war is on the table,” a statement by the group read.
“For the first time in months, we are hopeful that our nightmare will finally be over. We are confident that he will not rest until the last hostage is brought home, the war has ended, and peace and prosperity are restored to the people of the Middle East.”
Pakistan has also nominated Mr Trump for the award.
In pictures: Israel continues bombing of Gaza Strip as negotiations commence
Monday 6 October 2025 20:00 , Maira ButtAn Israeli army flare drifts over buildings destroyed during Israeli ground and air operations in the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel on Monday 6 October.
Trump warns Hamas faces ‘complete obliteration’ as Gaza ceasefire talks begin in Egypt
Monday 6 October 2025 20:20 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump reiterated his warning that Hamas would face a major offensive if the group does not agree to concede control of Gaza ahead of anticipated talks in Egypt towards releasing the remaining hostages and ending the war.
In a text message sent to CNN reporter Jake Tapper on Saturday, the president said the consequences for Hamas would be “complete obliteration” if the group insists on staying in power.
Ariana Baio and James C Reynolds reports:
Trump warns Hamas faces ‘complete obliteration’ as Gaza peace talks begin in Egypt
What are the sticking points that could sink Trump’s peace plan for Gaza?
Monday 6 October 2025 20:40 , Tara CobhamHamas and Israel will begin discussions on a long-term peace deal this week, after agreeing in principle to Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for war-torn Gaza.
Egypt is hosting negotiations between both sides beginning on Monday, after the US president presented the peace plan alongside Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hamas responded with a carefully-worded statement which agreed to the outline of the deal but suggested it wanted to negotiate on certain topics.
Major sticking points remain in their vision of peace - and Trump has warned Hamas that it will face “complete obliteration” if they do not accept.
The Independent takes a look at the issues which could bring the deal to collapse:
What are the sticking points that could sink Trump’s Gaza peace plan?
What have Hamas and Israel said about the Gaza peace plan talks
Monday 6 October 2025 21:00 , Tara CobhamA Hamas statement on Friday said that it was willing to release the hostages and hand over power to other Palestinians, but that other aspects of the plan require further consultations among Palestinians. The statement made no mention of Hamas disarming, which is a key Israeli demand.
The statement also reiterated its longstanding openness to handing power over to a politically independent Palestinian body.
Meanwhile, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that Israel was prepared for the implementation of the "first stage" of Trump's plan, apparently referring to the release of hostages. But his office said in a statement that Israel was committed to ending the war based on principles that it has set out before. Netanyahu has long said that Hamas must surrender and disarm.
Israel's army on Saturday said that the country's leaders had instructed it to prepare for the first phase of the US plan.
What questions remain over the Gaza peace plan
Monday 6 October 2025 21:20 , Tara CobhamQuestions include the timing of key steps. One Hamas official said that it would need days or weeks to locate some hostages' bodies. And senior Hamas officials have suggested that there are still major disagreements requiring further negotiations. A key demand is for Hamas to disarm, but the group's response made no mention of that.
It's not clear that Hamas officials can agree among themselves on the plan.
A senior official, Mousa Abu Marzouk, said that Hamas was willing to hand over its weapons to a future Palestinian body that runs Gaza, but there was no mention of that in the group's official statement responding to Trump's plan. Another official, Osama Hamdan, told Al Araby television that Hamas would refuse foreign administration of the Gaza Strip and that the entry of foreign forces would be "unacceptable."
Parts of the plan remain unclear. Hamas wants Israel to leave Gaza completely, but the plan says Israel would maintain a "security perimeter presence," which could mean it would keep a buffer zone inside the territory.
And the future of Gaza remains in question. The plan says that if the Palestinian Authority, which administers the occupied West Bank, reforms sufficiently and Gaza redevelopment advances, "the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood."
Analysis: Love him or hate him, Trump just showed Biden and Democrats how to handle Israel’s Netanyahu. But can his Gaza ‘peace’ endure?
Monday 6 October 2025 21:40 , Tara CobhamAs Monday dawned in Doha, where negotiators were set to meet and discuss the beginnings of a peace agreement to end the war in Gaza, prospects for ending a bloody conflict that upended regional stability and threatened to engulf the entire Middle East in war seemed closer than ever.
Back in Washington, Donald Trump similarly looks closer than ever to achieving the peacemaker label he’s long sought and often falsely claimed for himself by running around the world and claiming credit for ending multiple wars — the current count stands (allegedly) at seven.
And news coverage in both America and Israel is making the case that the U.S. president did what his predecessor either could not or would not: he “strong-armed” Benjamin Netanyahu into bringing this conflict to an end.
The Independent’s Washington DC correspondent John Bowden reports:
Trump just showed Biden and Democrats how to handle Israel’s Netanyahu
Trump expresses optimism of a Gaza deal soon after 'tremendous progress' made
Monday 6 October 2025 22:02 , Tara CobhamUS President Donald Trump said on Monday he thought there would be a Gaza deal soon.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said “tremendous progress” on the issue had been made.
Israel and Hamas wrap up first round of talks on Trump's peace plan, according to official
Monday 6 October 2025 22:05 , Tara CobhamIsraeli and Hamas officials have wrapped up the first round of talks on a US-drafted peace plan to end the ruinous war in Gaza on the eve of its second anniversary, according to an official.
The parties wrapped up Monday's round of negotiations at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, and the discussions were set to resume on Tuesday afternoon, said an Egyptian official with knowledge of the talks.
The indirect talks, which went on for several hours at an Egyptian resort, unfolded amid many questions about the plan presented by US President Donald Trump last week, including the disarmament of the militant group – a key Israeli demand – and the future governance of Gaza.
Parties agree on most of first-phase terms, which include ceasefire and release of hostages, official says
Monday 6 October 2025 22:17 , Tara CobhamAn Egyptian official with knowledge of the talks said the parties wrapped up Monday's round of negotiations at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, and the discussions were set to resume on Tuesday afternoon.
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, said the parties have agreed on most of the first-phase terms, which include the release of hostages and establishing a ceasefire.
Jordan's king and Trump discuss US Gaza plan developments
Monday 6 October 2025 22:30 , Tara CobhamJordan's King Abdullah discussed the latest developments related to US President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza in a phone call with the American president, the Jordanian royal court said on Monday.
Comment: Why Trump’s peace plan is so existentially terrifying for Hamas
Monday 6 October 2025 23:00 , Tara CobhamHamas is in a muddle. Should it stay or should it go? Can its leadership accept disarmament and exile to save Gaza from further Israeli bombardment, release its remaining hostages, and leave the future enclave to a foreign occupation – in the name of peace?
The Islamic Resistance Movement, as Hamas is strictly known, knows what it is when it’s fighting. It is a mess when it is not at war.
And now it may be close to irrelevant. For a militant movement that has built its worldview on martyrdom and has been prepared to provoke staggering violence from Israel, Hamas knows that its irrelevance is now existential.
The Independent’s World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley reports:
Why Trump’s peace plan is so existentially terrifying for Hamas
Who's at the Gaza peace plan talks
Monday 6 October 2025 23:30 , Tara CobhamUS envoy Steve Witkoff is leading the US negotiating team, according to a senior Egyptian official Saturday. Local Egyptian media said that Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, arrived in Egypt and are expected to join the talks.
Hamas said that its delegation will be headed by its chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, and Israel has said its delegation will be headed by top negotiator and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confidant Ron Dermer, although it wasn't clear if he was on the ground in Egypt. Netanyahu's office said that foreign policy adviser Ophir Falk would also be present for Israel among others.
It's not clear how long the talks would last. Netanyahu said they would be "confined to a few days maximum," and Trump has said that Hamas must move quickly, "or else all bets will be off." Hamas officials have warned more time may be needed to locate bodies of hostages buried under rubble.
Who are the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza and what might happen to them?
Tuesday 7 October 2025 00:00 , Tara CobhamHamas has indicated that it may be willing to release all of the hostages taken from Israel during the 7 October, 2023 attacks as part of a peace deal - almost two years after the attacks took place.
A total of 251 Israeli and foreign nationals were taken hostage when Hamas militants stormed across the border. The majority were returned alive during two temporary ceasefire agreements in autumn 2023 and between January and March 2025, but dozens of others have been killed while in captivity.
However, the hostages could be released as part of a new peace deal proposed by President Donald Trump. Negotiators from Hamas and Israel will discuss details of the 20-point plan in Egypt on Monday. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israel would “finish the job” if the Palestinian militants did not agree to the deal.
My colleagues Tom Watling and Alex Croft take a look at who the remaining hostages are and what could happen to them:
Who are remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza and when might they be freed?
What are the essentials of Trump's 20-point Gaza peace plan
Tuesday 7 October 2025 00:30 , Tara CobhamAll hostilities would – in theory – immediately end. Under the deal, Hamas would release all hostages it holds, living or dead, within 72 hours. The militants still have 48 hostages. Israel believes 20 of them are alive.
Israel would free 250 Palestinians serving life sentences in its prisons and 1,700 people detained from Gaza since the war began, including all women and children. Israel also would hand over the bodies of 15 Palestinians for each body of a hostage handed over.
Israeli troops would withdraw from Gaza after Hamas disarms, and an international security force would deploy. The territory would be placed under international governance, with Trump and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair overseeing it.
An interim administration of Palestinian technocrats would run day-to-day affairs. Hamas would have no part in administering Gaza, and all its military infrastructure, including tunnels, would be dismantled. Members who pledge to live peacefully would be granted amnesty. Those who wish to leave Gaza can.
Palestinians wouldn't be expelled from Gaza. Large amounts of humanitarian aid would be allowed and would be run by "neutral international bodies," including the United Nations and the Red Crescent.
Watch: Gaza flotilla activists allege mistreatment while being detained in Israel
Tuesday 7 October 2025 01:00 , Tara CobhamTrump claims there's a 'really good chance' at a deal
Tuesday 7 October 2025 01:30 , Bryony Gooch"I really think we're going to have a deal," Trump told reporters on Monday at the White House as the delegations met in Egypt. "We have a really good chance of making a deal, and it'll be a lasting deal."
But both sides are seeking clarifications of crucial details, including those that have derailed previous attempts to end the war and could defy any quick resolution.
Trump has pushed Israel to suspend its bombing of Gaza for the talks. Gaza residents said Israel had scaled back its offensive substantially, although not halted it altogether.
Gaza health authorities reported 19 people killed by Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours, around a third of the typical daily toll in recent weeks, when Israel has been mounting one of its biggest offensives of the war in Gaza City.
Recap: Israel and Hamas officials finish first rounds of talks
Tuesday 7 October 2025 02:00 , Bryony GoochIsraeli and Hamas officials have wrapped up the first round of talks at an Egyptian resort on a US-drafted peace plan to end the ruinous war in Gaza on the eve of its second anniversary.
The talks, which went on for several hours, unfolded amid many questions about the plan presented by US President Donald Trump last week, including the disarmament of the militant group - a key Israeli demand - and the future governance of Gaza.
Mr Trump has indicated that an agreement on Gaza could pave the way for a Middle East peace process that could reshape the region.
Despite Trump ordering Israel to stop the bombing, Israeli forces continued to pound Gaza with airstrikes, killing at least 19 people in the last 24 hours, the territory's Health Ministry said.
Analysis: Love him or hate him, Trump just showed Biden and Democrats how to handle Israel’s Netanyahu. But can his Gaza ‘peace’ endure?
Tuesday 7 October 2025 03:00 , Bryony GoochLiberals hate Donald Trump’s demanding and sometimes petulant approach to foreign policy. But it may have achieved what Joe Biden and Kamala Harris could not, writes John Bowden, The Independent’s Washington DC Correspondent.
Read more here:
Trump just showed Biden and Democrats how to handle Israel’s Netanyahu
Israel marks two years of 7 October Hamas attack
Tuesday 7 October 2025 03:56 , Namita SinghIsraelis prepared to mourn the dead on Tuesday as the nation marks two years since Hamas' 7 October attack plunged the region into a devastating war, while Israel and Hamas hold indirect talks in Egypt.
The main memorial ceremony is being organised by bereaved families, not the government, reflecting deep divisions over prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership, which many blame for the failure to secure a ceasefire that would free the remaining hostages held by the militant group.
Report:
A divided Israel marks 2 years since Oct. 7 attack as war in Gaza grinds on and hostages languish
Recap: US claims Israel needs to stop heavy bombardment for hostages to be released
Tuesday 7 October 2025 04:00 , Bryony GoochThe US has said Israel's heavy bombardment of Gaza would need to stop for hostages to be released.
Israel says it is largely heeding Mr Trump's call.
The Israeli military said it is mostly carrying out defensive strikes to protect troops, though dozens of Palestinians have been killed since the military's statement on Saturday night.
Gaza's Health Ministry said on Monday that the bodies of 19 people, including two aid-seekers killed by Israeli strikes and gunfire, had been brought to hospitals over the past 24 hours and another 96 were wounded.
The deaths brought the Palestinian toll to 67,160 since the Hamas attack on October 7 2023 triggered the war, with nearly 170,000 wounded, the ministry said.
The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but says more than half of the deaths were women and children.
The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, and the UN and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.
Key talks to end the war in Gaza begin
Tuesday 7 October 2025 04:12 , Namita SinghIsrael and Hamas began indirect talks on ending the war in Gaza on Monday, after both sides signalled support for US president Donald Trump's peace plan.
The talks in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh are brokered by the US and aim at hammering out details for the plan's first phase.
That includes a ceasefire to allow for the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
Trump's plan has received wide international backing and raised hopes for an end to a devastating war that has upended global politics, left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead and the Gaza Strip in ruins.
The war began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel and killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251.
Many uncertainties remain around the latest plan, including the demand for Hamas to disarm and the future governance of Gaza.
Who's at the Gaza peace talks?
Tuesday 7 October 2025 04:25 , Namita SinghUS envoy Steve Witkoff is leading the US negotiating team for the Israel-Hamas peace talks, according to a senior Egyptian official Saturday.
Local Egyptian media said that Witkoff and Jared Kushner, US president Donald Trump's son-in-law, arrived in Egypt and are expected to join the talks.
The Israelis are led by top negotiator Ron Dermer, while Khalil al-Hayyah leads the Hamas delegation. Netanyahu's office said that foreign policy adviser Ophir Falk would also be present for Israel among others.
It's not clear how long the talks would last.
Netanyahu said they would be "confined to a few days maximum," and Trump has said that Hamas must move quickly, "or else all bets will be off."
Hamas officials have warned more time may be needed to locate bodies of hostages buried under rubble.
Essentials of Trump’s ceasefire plan
Tuesday 7 October 2025 04:48 , Namita SinghUnder Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, all hostilities would – in theory – immediately end. Under the deal, Hamas would release all hostages it holds, living or dead, within 72 hours.
The militants still have 48 hostages. Israel believes about 20 of them are alive.
Israel would free 250 Palestinians serving life sentences in its prisons and 1,700 people detained from Gaza since the war began, including all women and children.
Israel also would hand over the bodies of 15 Palestinians for each body of a hostage handed over.
Israeli troops would withdraw from Gaza after Hamas disarms, and an international security force would be deployed. The territory would be placed under an international board of governance, with Trump overseeing it and former prime minister Tony Blair named as an example of a member.
An interim administration of Palestinian technocrats would run day-to-day affairs. Hamas would have no part in administering Gaza, and all its military infrastructure, including tunnels, would be dismantled. Members who pledge to live peacefully would be granted amnesty. Those who wish to leave Gaza can.
Palestinians wouldn't be expelled from Gaza. Large amounts of humanitarian aid would be allowed and would be run by "neutral international bodies," including the United Nations and the Red Crescent.
How have Israel and Hamas responded to peace plan
Tuesday 7 October 2025 05:26 , Namita SinghA Hamas statement on Friday said that it was willing to release the hostages and hand over power to other Palestinians, but that other aspects of the plan require further consultations among Palestinians. The statement made no mention of Hamas disarming, which is a key Israeli demand.
The statement also reiterated its longstanding openness to handing power over to a politically independent Palestinian body.
Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that Israel was prepared for the implementation of the "first stage" of Donald Trump's peace plan, apparently referring to the release of hostages. But his office said in a statement that Israel was committed to ending the war based on principles that it has set out before.
Netanyahu has long said that Hamas must surrender and disarm.
Israel's army on Saturday said that the country's leaders had instructed it to prepare for the first phase of the US plan.
Is Trump’s plan an existential threat to Hamas?
Tuesday 7 October 2025 05:39 , Namita SinghDonald Trump may be frantically calling for an agreement between Israel and Hamas, but the latter has always created chaos and ridden its violent waves – and has little incentive to pursue peace, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley.
Why Trump’s peace plan is so existentially terrifying for Hamas
There are still major areas of contention over the ceasefire terms presented by Donald Trump that could potentially impact the outcome of talks.
One Hamas official has already said that it would need days or weeks to locate some hostages' bodies, for example.
And senior Hamas officials have suggested that there are still major disagreements requiring further negotiations.
A key demand is for Hamas to disarm, but the group's response made no mention of that.
It's not clear that Hamas officials can agree among themselves on the plan.
A senior official, Mousa Abu Marzouk, said that Hamas was willing to hand over its weapons to a future Palestinian body that runs Gaza, but there was no mention of that in the group's official statement responding to Trump's plan.
Another official, Osama Hamdan, told Al Araby television that Hamas would refuse foreign administration of the Gaza Strip and that the entry of foreign forces would be "unacceptable."Parts of the plan remain unclear. Hamas wants Israel to leave Gaza completely, but the plan says Israel would maintain a "security perimeter presence," which could mean it would keep a buffer zone inside the territory.
And the future of a possible Palestinian state remains in question. The plan says that if the Palestinian Authority, which administers the occupied West Bank, reforms sufficiently and Gaza redevelopment advances, "the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood".
While Israel has said it backs Trump's plan, Benjamin Netanyahu has continued to reject outright the idea of recognising a state of Palestine.
In pictures: Vigils around world to mark two years since 7 October Hamas attack
Tuesday 7 October 2025 06:11 , Namita Singh
Starmer brands protests taking place on 7 October anniversary ‘un-British’
Tuesday 7 October 2025 06:26 , Namita SinghThe UK will "always stand tall" against those who wish harm and hatred upon Jewish communities, Sir Keir Starmer said as he urged students not to protest on the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks.
Around 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage in the deadly attacks on Israel by Hamas in 2023.
Every child of Israel should be able to live alongside their Palestinian neighbours in "safety and security", the prime minister said as he marked the anniversary.
Starmer brands protests taking place on October 7 anniversary ‘un-British’
Badenoch claims Starmer government has ‘rewarded terrorists’ in recognising Palestinian state
Tuesday 7 October 2025 06:27 , Namita SinghOn the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said "the same hatred that fuelled those barbaric attacks still festers today".
She said in a statement: "Israel, the world's only Jewish state, has faced hatred, war and terror since the day it was founded. And yet, it has stood strong. A beacon of democracy and resilience in the Middle East.
"But two years on from the horrific massacre on October 7, we must also be honest: the same hatred that fuelled those barbaric attacks still festers today.
"We see it in the so-called 'protests' that turn into hate marches on our streets. We hear it in chants calling to 'globalise the intifada'. And we saw it again, tragically, in the appalling terrorist attack on our Jewish community right here in Manchester just last week."
She added: "It is shameful that in recognising Palestine as a state, the government has rewarded the terrorists that perpetrated the 7th October atrocities.
"Appeasement does not work. There are still 48 hostages held captive in Gaza. They must come home now."
Greta Thunberg receives warm reception from pro-Palestinian crowd in Greece
Tuesday 7 October 2025 07:02 , Namita SinghGreta Thunberg arrived in Greece to a cheering pro-Palestinian crowd on Monday after she and hundreds of other activists captured by Israel on the high seas were deported following an attempt to bring aid to Gaza.
Israel said it expelled 171 activists, including the climate activist, bringing the total deported so far to 341, out of 479 people it detained when it captured the flotilla attempting to break its naval blockade of Gaza.
Greece said 161 of the activists arrived on a flight to Athens on Monday, including Ms Thunberg. They included 27 Greeks, as well as citizens of nearly 20 other countries.
Report:
Greta Thunberg cheered by crowd in Athens after Israel expels Gaza flotilla activists
Starmer urges students to stay away from 7 October protests
Tuesday 7 October 2025 07:22 , Namita SinghSir Keir Starmer has urged students not to attend pro-Palestine protests on the second anniversary of the “heinous” 7 October terror attacks on Israel and just days after two people were killed at a synagogue in Manchester.
Hundreds were arrested at a Palestine Action demonstration in London on Saturday, which went ahead despite calls from Sir Keir and others in the wake of the attack on British soil, leading Amnesty International to say it should not be the job of police to arrest people “peacefully sitting down”.
Thousands of students are expected to attend rallies on Tuesday on the second anniversary of the atrocity in which 1,200 people were killed.
Read more in this report from our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin:
Starmer urges university students to halt pro-Palestine protest planned for 7 October
Swinney ‘very concerned’ about Gaza aid flotilla Scots detained by Israel
Tuesday 7 October 2025 07:36 , Namita SinghFirst minister John Swinney has said he is "very concerned" about the wellbeing of the four Scots detained by Israel last week while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Some 450 people on board the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) were detained by Israel last week while sailing towards the famine-stricken strip with food and medical supplies.
Jim Hickey, Margaret Pacetta, Yvonne Ridley and Sid Khan were named by MSPs in the Scottish Parliament as the Scots being held.
Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg is also among the figures who were held in Israeli prisons.
Some activists have alleged mistreatment at the hands of Israeli guards.Israel denies the claims.
The Israeli foreign ministry said it offered voluntary deportation to all of the activists and those that remain in detention chose to stay there in order to go through a legal deportation process.
How Israel is marking the two-year anniversary of 7 October
Tuesday 7 October 2025 07:50 , Namita SinghPeople are expected to gather at the site of the 7 October massacre at the Nova music festival today, where nearly 400 Israelis were killed and dozens abducted two years ago in the border community of Reim.
Since the attack, the site has emerged as a popular memorial, with portraits of the kidnapped and fallen affixed to Israeli flags.
Bereaved families plan to erect a sukkah – a festive, temporary shelter – there for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, which coincides with the anniversary.
There are no plans for an official ceremony at the Nova site due to the Jewish holiday.
The main memorial ceremony will be held in Tel Aviv and include musical performances and speeches.
It’s being organised by Yonatan Shamriz, whose brother, Alon, was among three hostages mistakenly killed by Israeli forces after they escaped captivity early in the war.
UK education secretary urges students to ‘show some humanity’
Tuesday 7 October 2025 08:00 , Namita SinghStudents considering joining pro-Palestinian protests on the anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel should "pause" and "show some humanity", education secretary Bridget Phillipson said.
A string of protests at universities are expected later on Tuesday, two years on from the 7 October atrocities in southern Israel.
Phillipson told Sky News: "There is, of course, within our country the fundamental right to protest. It's a cornerstone of our democracy.
"But my message is that, as we remember the awful atrocities that took place two years ago on October 7, I would just encourage those considering taking part in protests to pause, to reflect and to understand the deep sense of loss that many people in our country will be experiencing today, not least given the appalling attacks we saw at Manchester last week.
"So my message is that whilst you might have the right to protest, I would urge people to show some humanity, to show some respect and to understand the deep sense of grief and loss that many Jewish people in our country will be experiencing today."
Freed hostage marks anniversary of October 7 attacks
Tuesday 7 October 2025 08:24 , James ReynoldsFreed hostage Eli Sharabi marked the anniversary of the October 7 attacks with a call to return the remaining captives in Gaza, including the body of his brother.
“Two years have passed since the day everything changed for me,” he wrote on Facebook, as reported by the Times of Israel.
“On 7/10/23 our peaceful and happy life became hell, mourning, and unimaginable loss that will accompany me every moment until my last day… A longing that is getting stronger for pure souls, my wife, Lianne, my daughters Noiya and Yahel, and Yossi my brother.”
“However since my release, every morning I choose a life full of action and hope,” he said.
Mr Sharabi, 53, was released in February after 491 days in captivity. He then learned that his wife and daughters, 16 and 13, had been killed in their home after he was taken.
‘Each terrorist had a favourite hostage - if we asked right, we might get extra food’
Israelis say it is time to end the war
Tuesday 7 October 2025 09:05 , James ReynoldsTwo thirds of Israelis believe it is time to end the war between Israel and Hamas, new polling shows.
Sixty-six per cent of respondents said in an Israel Democracy Institute survey that they supported peace, up 13 per cent from this time last year and ahead of this week’s talks.
The poll, published September 30, found that a majority 64 per cent of Israelis also think prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu should take responsibility for October 7 and resign immediately (45 per cent) or after the war (19 per cent).
The survey was carried out by the Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute in September, with 800 participants.
Survivors and families gather at the site of the Nova festival massacre
Tuesday 7 October 2025 09:20 , James ReynoldsIsraelis marked two years since Hamas’ incursion on Tuesday, gathering at the site of the Nova festival near kibbutz Re’im where 378 people were killed and dozens captured during the attacks on October 7, 2023.
Hundreds had gathered at the memorial for a ceremony scheduled to take place on site at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. On Sunday, survivors and bereaved families had gathered at the site to share their grief.
130 Global Sumud Flotilla activists deported from Israel, says Jordan
Tuesday 7 October 2025 09:45 , James ReynoldsJordan’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that 130 activists from a host of countries had been deported from Israel to Jordan.
Activists were arriving from Bahrain, Tunisia, Algeria, Oman, Kuwait, Libya, Pakistan, Turkey, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Serbia, South Africa, Switzerland, the UK, the US and Uruguay.
'Talks to resume in Sharm el-Sheikh'
Tuesday 7 October 2025 09:45 , James ReynoldsIndirect peace talks were set to resume in Egypt after a “positive” first round on Monday.
A source close to Hamas’ negotiating team told the AFP news agency that Monday’s talks were “positive” and lasted around four hours.
They said that indirect negotiations were scheduled to continue on Tuesday. Another source said they would resume in Sharm el-Sheikh, a continuation from yesterday.
Who are the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza?
Tuesday 7 October 2025 09:50 , James ReynoldsOf the 251 hostages taken into Gaza on October 7, 48 people are believed to remain captive in the Palestinian territory.
Twenty of those are believed to still be alive.
After two years held by Hamas, negotiators are working to secure their release and return home, and a lasting end to the conflict.
Hamas has said it will release the remaining hostages, but still sought amendments to Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan ahead of this week’s talks.
Who are remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza and when might they be freed?
Rocket launched at Israel as bombing of Gaza continues
Tuesday 7 October 2025 10:10 , James ReynoldsThe IDF reported on Tuesday that a rocket had been fired from northern Gaza into Israeli territory. No injuries were reported.
In Gaza, al-Amal hospital officials reported that a child had been killed and many Palestinians wounded in an Israeli attack.
Global reactions on second anniversary of October 7 attacks
Tuesday 7 October 2025 10:15 , James ReynoldsWorld leaders spoke on Tuesday to call for the release of the remaining hostages and an end to the war in Gaza as Israelis marked two years since the Hamas-led October 7 attacks.
British prime minister Keir Starmer said: “Our priority in the Middle East remains the same – release the hostages. Surge aid into Gaza. And a ceasefire that can lead to a lasting and just peace as a step towards a Two-State solution.”
French president Emmanuel Macron said: “We do not forget. We stand in solidarity with all the victims, including 51 of our fellow citizens. We also think of the 48 hostages still held by Hamas. We are working tirelessly for their release. I reiterate France’s call: the release of all hostages and a ceasefire must take place without delay.”
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said: “Two years have passed since the ignominy of the massacre carried out by Hamas terrorists against thousands of defenceless and innocent Israeli civilians, including women and children. Unspeakable crimes that make October 7 one of the darkest pages in history.”
She added: “Hamas' violence has triggered an unprecedented crisis in the Middle East. Israel’s military response has gone beyond any principle of proportionality, claiming too many innocent lives among Gaza’s civilian population. We all have a duty to do everything within our power to ensure that this precious and fragile opportunity - the peace plan presented by President Trump - succeeds."
Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said: “Today we pause to honour the victims of terror. We stand firmly against hatred and violence. As talks advance under the @POTUS plan, we urge all parties to act with courage and restraint: toward a lasting ceasefire, release of all hostages and a future of peace and security for all."
Gaza health system 'devastated' after two years of war
Tuesday 7 October 2025 10:18 , James ReynoldsGaza’s health services have been rocked by “devastating and fatal blows” over two years of bitter conflict, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza has said.
“What is happening in the Gaza Strip is not a humanitarian crisis, or just a passing description of the long record of Israeli occupation crimes,” the ministry said in a post on Telegram on Tuesday.
“Rather, it is a complete and deliberate collapse of the pillar of human existence represented by the health services system, which has been exposed over the course of 730 days to devastating and fatal blows that have struck the nerve of the service components and its infrastructure.”
It claimed that 51,196 children under the age of five were still suffering from severe malnutrition, with health conditions worsened by overcrowding in “forced assembly areas”.
25 of 38 hospitals were out of service, it said, with 13 “still operating partially and in difficult conditions”.
Gazans and Israelis mark two years of conflict
Tuesday 7 October 2025 10:30 , James ReynoldsAfter two years of devastating conflict, people in Gaza and Israel spoke of their hopes for an end to the war.
Gaza resident Mohammed Dib, 49, said: “It's been two years that we are living in fear, horror, displacement and destruction. We are hoping, with these new negotiations, to reach a ceasefire and a final end to the war."
Israeli citizen Hilda Weisthal said: “It's like an open wound, the hostages, I can't believe it's been two years and they are still not home. I really hope that all the leaders will make a push and that this war will end."
Hamas issues statement two years on from attacks
Tuesday 7 October 2025 10:40 , James ReynoldsHamas issued a statement on the second anniversary of the deadly October 7 attacks.
It described the time since as “two years of pain, injustice, oppression and great suffering, of heavy costs”.
Hamas criticised Israel’s attacks on “defenceless civilians”, lamenting “shameful international silence and complicity and unprecedented Arab failure”.
'Positive signals' coming from talks, senior Palestinian official says
Tuesday 7 October 2025 10:44 , Bel TrewPalestinian deputy foreign minister Omar Awadallah told The Independent that there were “positive signals” coming out of the indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Sharm El-Sheikh over a deal for Gaza.
He said that we were “the closest to an agreement since January”, when the last temporary truce was reached and came into effect.
Representatives from Hamas, Israel, as well as Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are currently in Sharm El-Sheikh working on the implementation of Trump’s 20-point peace plan. So far, negotiators have been fairly tight-lipped about what exactly has been discussed.
Mr Awadallah said that top of the agenda right now was the “first part” of the plan: the release of hostages and prisoners, the entry of aid “at scale”, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and a halt to the fighting, the end to the slaughter.
For these initial stages, he said “the atmosphere is optimistic” that an agreement could be reached soon, as Trump has put pressure on a deal this week.
The issue, however, is the timeframes and a “solid action plan”.
“For [the] withdrawal of Israeli forces, we want the time frame to be quick, so that our people can be relieved and we can start the process of recovery and reconstruction. Without Israel’s withdrawal, it will be difficult,” he told The Independent from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
“But the deal needs action plans, time lines and time tables.”
One of the key concerns from the Palestinian side is Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu “playing tricks.”
“He is a master in changing agreed upon ideas, and in sabotaging any peaceful solution in the Middle East.
“The concern is without time line of withdrawal, this turns into a de facto occupation of Gaza, and also isolating Gaza, taking Gaza out of the geographical and political unity that is essential to political peace process.”
“Gaza is integral to the state of Palestine, there is no ‘people in Gaza’, no ‘Ramallah’s people’, no ‘West Bank people’, it is called the question of Palestine,” he added.
Gueterres backs Trump's peace plan
Tuesday 7 October 2025 11:00 , James ReynoldsAhead of the resumption of talks on Tuesday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an end to the hostilities, which have created "a humanitarian catastrophe on a scale that defied comprehension."
"The recent proposal by US President Donald J. Trump presents an opportunity that must be seized to bring this tragic conflict to an end," Guterres said.
"A permanent ceasefire and a credible political process are essential to prevent further bloodshed and pave the way for peace. International law must be respected."
Netanyahu 'very positive' on talks, says Trump
Tuesday 7 October 2025 11:15 , James ReynoldsU.S. president Donald Trump assured Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains “very positive” about the ongoing indirect peace talks in Egypt.
Pressed by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on an Axios report that claimed Trump had urged Netanyahu to stop being negative, the U.S. leader said it was “not true”.
“He’s been very positive on the deal,” Trump said. “But this is a deal that, incredibly, everyone just came together. They all came together. No, Israel’s been great. They’ve all been good, Kaitlan.”
Israelis march for hostages in Jerusalem
Tuesday 7 October 2025 11:30 , James ReynoldsIsraelis marched in Jerusalem on Tuesday to call for the return of hostages still held in Gaza after two years of war.
Atalia Regev told the BBC she remembered waiting anxiously for a friend in kibbutz Be’eri to respond to texts during Hamas’ incursion.
Two years on, she says she and her partner, Bar, have always supported peace, but have lingering trust issues.
“We didn’t have any regular life for a long time. It was really, really hard,” she said.
In pictures: People gather for a vigil in remembrance of the October 7 victims in Berlin
Tuesday 7 October 2025 11:45 , James Reynolds
One killed in Israeli drone strike in Lebanon, says health ministry
Tuesday 7 October 2025 12:00 , James ReynoldsOne person was killed and another wounded in an Israeli drone strike in Lebanon, the Lebanese health ministry said on Tuesday.
The drone was said to be targeting a car in Deir Aames, a town in the south.
The IDF is yet to comment.
How two years of war in Gaza have devastated lives in Gaza
Tuesday 7 October 2025 12:15 , James ReynoldsThe war between Hamas and Israel began when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza.
In response, Israeli leaders promised a punishing offensive on the strip to annihilate Hamas and free the hostages.
Here’s a closer look at the devastation that followed, by the numbers:
These numbers show how 2 years of war have devastated Palestinian lives in Gaza
Hostage families endorse Trump for peace prize
Tuesday 7 October 2025 12:30 , James ReynoldsFamilies of hostages still held in Gaza have endorsed Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize over his efforts to secure the release of the remaining captives.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement to the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Monday that “for the first time in months, we are hopeful that our nightmare will finally be over” as Trump’s plan to end the war was tabled in Egypt.
“We are confident that [Trump] will not rest until the last hostage is brought home, the war has ended, and peace and prosperity are restored to the people of the Middle East,” they said, calling on the committee to name the U.S. president as the laureate of the award this Friday.
“Today, we write with hearts full of gratitude and a profound sense of momentous urgency, to urge you to award the Nobel Peace Prize to President Donald J. Trump.”
— Bring Them Home Now (@bringhomenow) October 6, 2025
The Families of the Hostages wrote to the Norwegian Nobel Committee today, asking the committee to award President… pic.twitter.com/4wiZzuVjts
Pope to visit Turkey and Lebanon in first trip outside of Italy
Tuesday 7 October 2025 12:45 , James ReynoldsPope Leo will visit Turkey and Lebanon in November in his first trip outside of Italy, the Vatican said on Tuesday.
Hostage families demand explanation from Netanyahu over incorrect figure
Tuesday 7 October 2025 13:00 , James ReynoldsThe Hostages and Missing Families Forum demanded an explanation from Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu after he said there were 46 hostages still in Gaza.
Netanyahu spoke to American commentator Ben Shapiro in an interview published on Monday about Israel’s wins over “Iran’s proxies” in the region.
With peace talks ongoing, he added: “What started in Gaza will end in Gaza with the release of 40 of our hostages - 46 actually, 20 are alive - and also the end of Hamas rule … in Gaza.”
The mistake drew fire from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, who corrected the figure to 48 and said: “They were all taken on your watch.”
“You have the opportunity to end this nightmare. It is time to begin the recovery and renewal of the people of Israel, to reach an agreement that ends the longest war in our history and brings home all 48 – the living for rehabilitation and the fallen for burial. Forty-eight. Not 40. Not 46,” a statement shared across Israeli media read.
Qatar says many details need ironing for full agreement between Israel and Hamas
Tuesday 7 October 2025 13:20 , Alex CroftQatar, which has mediated in previous attempts to secure a ceasefire along with the United States and Egypt, has said many details still have to be ironed out to reach a full agreement between Israel and Hamas.
"The plan consists of 20 points, and all of these points require practical interpretations on the ground," Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, told a press conference.
Hamas handing over hostages seized in the 2023 attack would mean the end of the war, he said.
'This moment must be seized,' says EU chief
Tuesday 7 October 2025 13:36 , Alex CroftEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the "immediate release of all hostages and a ceasefire are now within reach".
"This moment must be seized to pave the way for a lasting peace in the region, based on the two-state solution," she said.
Father of killed hostage whose body is in Gaza hits out at Netanyahu
Tuesday 7 October 2025 13:51 , Alex CroftRuby Chen, the father of killed hostage Itay Chen, whose body is being held in Gaza, has hit out at Benjamin Netanyahu and others for referring to “20 hostages”.
Reference to the “20 hostages”, a figure which has been commonly mentioned in Israel, does not include the bodies of those still being held in Gaza.
“Even though we were notified [of his death], in my book, it doesn’t change his status as a hostage,” Mr Chen told The Independent.
“It’s very, very disappointing when the prime minister, even the president, says ‘20 hostages’.
“I was in the UN listening to Netanyahu speak and he started naming the hostages. He stopped after 20. I actually wanted to yell out, ‘What about Itay?’” he added.
Gazans hope for quick end to war after two years of bombardment
Tuesday 7 October 2025 14:22 , Alex CroftThe anguish of loss and a desperate wish for a quick end to the war has resounded across Gaza, after two years of devastating Israeli bombardment and invasion.
"Our families have died, our homes are gone. We pray to God that this war will end as soon as possible, today instead of tomorrow," said Sanaa Adwan in Khan Younis.
Ghassan Abu Rejeila said the war has stripped Gaza of everything that gives life meaning, whether it's a family gathering or a decent meal.
His wish to watch his children in their school uniforms pursue their education is no more. "We've lost the beautiful moments (in life). Our life has become hell upon hell. Every day, there is killing, strikes, death, martyrdom,” he told Reuters news agency.
Maha Shbeir, a doctor at Nasser Hospital, said the last two years feel like two decades of tragedy, suffering, homelessness and hunger. The war robbed people of a sense of stability, he added. After being displaced eight times, it felt as if "my soul was leaving my body."
Gaza health system 'devastated' after two years of war
Tuesday 7 October 2025 14:58 , Alex CroftGaza’s health services have been rocked by “devastating and fatal blows” over two years of bitter conflict, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza has said.
“What is happening in the Gaza Strip is not a humanitarian crisis, or just a passing description of the long record of Israeli occupation crimes,” the ministry said in a post on Telegram on Tuesday.
“Rather, it is a complete and deliberate collapse of the pillar of human existence represented by the health services system, which has been exposed over the course of 730 days to devastating and fatal blows that have struck the nerve of the service components and its infrastructure.”
It claimed that 51,196 children under the age of five were still suffering from severe malnutrition, with health conditions worsened by overcrowding in “forced assembly areas”.
25 of 38 hospitals were out of service, it said, with 13 “still operating partially and in difficult conditions”.
In pictures: Vigils around world to mark two years since 7 October Hamas attack
Tuesday 7 October 2025 15:29 , Alex Croft
Two years of unprecedented bloodshed in Gaza: ‘Our greatest hope is that this nightmare will end’
Tuesday 7 October 2025 16:00 , Alex CroftTwo years on from the brutal Hamas killings of October 7 and Israel’s retaliatory bombings, life in Gaza has been a hellscape of death and famine, report Nedal Hamdouna in Gaza and chief international correspondent Bel Trew...
Two years of unprecedented bloodshed in Gaza: ‘Our biggest hope? This nightmare ends’
Guterres backs Trump's peace plan
Tuesday 7 October 2025 16:31 , Alex CroftAhead of the resumption of talks on Tuesday, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres called for an end to the hostilities, which have created "a humanitarian catastrophe on a scale that defied comprehension."
"The recent proposal by US president Donald J Trump presents an opportunity that must be seized to bring this tragic conflict to an end," Mr Guterres said.
"A permanent ceasefire and a credible political process are essential to prevent further bloodshed and pave the way for peace. International law must be respected."
'Positive signals' coming from talks, senior Palestinian official says
Tuesday 7 October 2025 16:32 , Alex CroftThe Independent’s chief correspondent Bel Trew has been speaking to Palestinian officials:
Palestinian deputy foreign minister Omar Awadallah told The Independent that there were “positive signals” coming out of the indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Sharm El-Sheikh over a deal for Gaza.
He said that we were “the closest to an agreement since January”, when the last temporary truce was reached and came into effect.
Representatives from Hamas, Israel, as well as Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are currently in Sharm El-Sheikh working on the implementation of Trump’s 20-point peace plan. So far, negotiators have been fairly tight-lipped about what exactly has been discussed.
Mr Awadallah said that top of the agenda right now was the “first part” of the plan: the release of hostages and prisoners, the entry of aid “at scale”, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and a halt to the fighting, the end to the slaughter.
For these initial stages, he said “the atmosphere is optimistic” that an agreement could be reached soon, as Trump has put pressure on a deal this week.
The issue, however, is the timeframes and a “solid action plan”.
“For [the] withdrawal of Israeli forces, we want the time frame to be quick, so that our people can be relieved and we can start the process of recovery and reconstruction. Without Israel’s withdrawal, it will be difficult,” he told The Independent from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
“But the deal needs action plans, time lines and time tables.”
One of the key concerns from the Palestinian side is Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu “playing tricks.”
“He is a master in changing agreed upon ideas, and in sabotaging any peaceful solution in the Middle East.
“The concern is without time line of withdrawal, this turns into a de facto occupation of Gaza, and also isolating Gaza, taking Gaza out of the geographical and political unity that is essential to political peace process.”
“Gaza is integral to the state of Palestine, there is no ‘people in Gaza’, no ‘Ramallah’s people’, no ‘West Bank people’, it is called the question of Palestine,” he added.
First round of talks 'concludes' with Witkoff to join negotiations
Tuesday 7 October 2025 16:59 , Daniel KeaneThe first round of ceasefire talks between Israeli and Hamas officials has concluded in Egypt, Palestinian official has said.
The official told the BBC that the negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian delegations in resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh lasted for four hours. Qatari and Egyptian mediators were in attendance, the source said.
Donald Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will arrive imminently to join the talks along with Jared Kushner, the President’s son-in-law and a former senior advisor in his last administration.
Hamas issues statement two years on from attacks
Tuesday 7 October 2025 17:00 , Alex CroftHamas issued a statement on the second anniversary of the deadly October 7 attacks.
It described the time since as “two years of pain, injustice, oppression and great suffering, of heavy costs”.
Hamas criticised Israel’s attacks on “defenceless civilians”, lamenting “shameful international silence and complicity and unprecedented Arab failure”.
Netanyahu 'very positive' on talks, says Trump
Tuesday 7 October 2025 17:28 , Alex CroftUS president Donald Trump assured Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains “very positive” about the ongoing indirect peace talks in Egypt.
Pressed by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on an Axios report that claimed Trump had urged Netanyahu to stop being negative, the U.S. leader said it was “not true”.
“He’s been very positive on the deal,” Trump said. “But this is a deal that, incredibly, everyone just came together. They all came together. No, Israel’s been great. They’ve all been good, Kaitlan.”
Hostage families endorse Trump for peace prize
Tuesday 7 October 2025 18:02 , Alex CroftFamilies of hostages still held in Gaza have endorsed Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize over his efforts to secure the release of the remaining captives.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement to the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Monday that “for the first time in months, we are hopeful that our nightmare will finally be over” as Trump’s plan to end the war was tabled in Egypt.
“We are confident that [Trump] will not rest until the last hostage is brought home, the war has ended, and peace and prosperity are restored to the people of the Middle East,” they said, calling on the committee to name the U.S. president as the laureate of the award this Friday.
Qatar says many details need ironing for full agreement between Israel and Hamas
Tuesday 7 October 2025 19:02 , Alex CroftQatar, which has mediated in previous attempts to secure a ceasefire along with the United States and Egypt, has said many details still have to be ironed out to reach a full agreement between Israel and Hamas.
"The plan consists of 20 points, and all of these points require practical interpretations on the ground," Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, told a press conference.
Hamas handing over hostages seized in the 2023 attack would mean the end of the war, he said.
One killed in Israeli drone strike in Lebanon, says health ministry
Tuesday 7 October 2025 20:01 , Alex CroftOne person was killed and another wounded in an Israeli drone strike in Lebanon, the Lebanese health ministry said on Tuesday.
The drone was said to be targeting a car in Deir Aames, a town in the south.
The IDF is yet to comment.
Israelis march for hostages in Jerusalem
Tuesday 7 October 2025 21:01 , Alex CroftIsraelis marched in Jerusalem on Tuesday to call for the return of hostages still held in Gaza after two years of war.
Atalia Regev told the BBC she remembered waiting anxiously for a friend in kibbutz Be’eri to respond to texts during Hamas’ incursion.
Two years on, she says she and her partner, Bar, have always supported peace, but have lingering trust issues.
“We didn’t have any regular life for a long time. It was really, really hard,” she said.
Father of killed hostage whose body is in Gaza hits out at Netanyahu
Tuesday 7 October 2025 22:00 , Alex CroftRuby Chen, the father of killed hostage Itay Chen, whose body is being held in Gaza, has hit out at Benjamin Netanyahu and others for referring to “20 hostages”.
Reference to the “20 hostages”, a figure which has been commonly mentioned in Israel, does not include the bodies of those still being held in Gaza.
“Even though we were notified [of his death], in my book, it doesn’t change his status as a hostage,” Mr Chen told The Independent.
“It’s very, very disappointing when the prime minister, even the president, says ‘20 hostages’.
“I was in the UN listening to Netanyahu speak and he started naming the hostages. He stopped after 20. I actually wanted to yell out, ‘What about Itay?’” he added.
Trump optimistic on peace
01:32 , Alex RossHamas said on Tuesday it was ready to reach a deal to end the war in Gaza based on President Donald Trump's plan but still has demands, as Qatar's prime minister and senior U.S. mediators headed to Egypt to join indirect negotiations between the Palestinian militant group and Israel.
On the second anniversary of Hamas' attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war, Trump expressed optimism about progress toward a Gaza deal.
A US team including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and his Middle East envoy during his first term, left for the talks.
"I think there's a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East" beyond just Gaza, the US president told reporters in the Oval Office.
A source close to the talks said they had adjourned for the day and the atmosphere had been better than on Monday. Negotiations on Wednesday would be a decisive indicator of whether progress was possible given the presence of the senior mediators, the source said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani of Qatar, which has been one of the key mediators, will join the talks on Wednesday, an official told Reuters, "with the aim of pushing forward the Gaza ceasefire plan and hostage release agreement".
Hamas ready to 'engage in serious negotiations'
02:34 , Alex RossOn the second day of talks in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, top Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya told Egyptian state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV the group had come "to engage in serious and responsible negotiations."
He said Hamas was ready to reach a deal, yet it needed a "guarantee" to end the war and ensure "it is not repeated".
Hamas sets out conditions
03:35 , Alex RossDonald Trump met senior US mediators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for an update on the negotiations before they departed for Egypt for talks on Wednesday.
They discussed issues such as ensuring the safety of the hostages and security guarantees, the official added.
"The (Hamas) movement’s delegation participating in the current negotiations in Egypt is working to overcome all obstacles to reaching an agreement that meets the aspirations of our people in Gaza," senior Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum said in a televised statement.
He said a deal must ensure an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip - conditions that Israel has never accepted. Israel, for its part, wants Hamas to disarm, something the group rejects.
Hamas wants a permanent, comprehensive ceasefire, a complete pullout of Israeli forces and the immediate start of a comprehensive reconstruction process under the supervision of a Palestinian "national technocratic body", he said.
Meloni says she was reported to ICC for alleged complicity in genocide
04:15 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarItalian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has revealed that she has been reported to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged complicity in genocide in connection with Israel's offensive in Gaza.
Two of Ms Meloni’s ministers have also been reported to the ICC, she revealed on Tuesday.
Speaking with state television broadcaster RAI, Ms Meloni said defence minister Guido Crosetto and foreign minister Antonio Tajani had been denounced, and "I think" also Roberto Cingolani, the head of defence group Leonardo.
"I don't believe there is another case like this in the world or in history," Ms Meloni said.
More here.
Hamas sets out conditions for ceasefire
04:52 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarHamas said on Tuesday that it is ready to reach a deal to end the war in Gaza based on US president Donald Trump's plan, but set out a number of conditions including the immediate and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.
The talks are set to be ramped up on Wednesday with US mediators and Qatar's PM heading to Egypt to join the indirect negotiations between the Palestinian militant group and Israel.
Khalil Al-Hayya, who is leading Hamas's negotiating team, told Egyptian state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV on Tuesday that the group had come "to engage in serious and responsible negotiations".
He said Hamas was ready to reach a deal, yet it needed a "guarantee" to end the war and ensure "it is not repeated".Mr Al-Hayya said Hamas seeks to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire and a complete prisoner exchange deal that includes all prisoners from both sides.
He added that the Palestinian delegation came to the discussions carrying the "aspirations of the Palestinian people for stability, freedom, and the establishment of their independent state".
Senior Hamas leader Fawzi Barhoum, in a televised statement, said: "The (Hamas) movement's delegation participating in the current negotiations in Egypt is working to overcome all obstacles to reaching an agreement that meets the aspirations of our people in Gaza.
"He said a deal must ensure an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza — conditions that Israel has never accepted. Israel, for its part, wants Hamas to disarm, something the group rejects.
Barhoum said Hamas wants a permanent, comprehensive ceasefire, a complete pullout of Israeli forces and the immediate start of a comprehensive reconstruction process under the supervision of a Palestinian "national technocratic body".
Underlining the obstacles at talks, an umbrella of Palestinian factions, including Hamas, issued a statement vowing a "resistance stance by all means" and saying "no one has the right to cede the weapons of the Palestinian people".
