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Israel army says preparing to pull back troops in Gaza as part of deal
The Israeli military said on Thursday it was preparing to pull back troops in Gaza after Israel and Hamas agreed a ceasefire deal to free the remaining hostages.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that the military said in a statement:
The [Israel Defense Forces] IDF has begun operational preparations ahead of the implementation of the agreement.
As part of this process, preparations and a combat protocol are under way to transition to adjusted deployment lines soon.
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Israel says cabinet to meet on Thursday to discuss 'plan for the release of all Israeli hostages' in Gaza
Israel’s cabinet will meet on Thursday at 3pm GMT to discuss a plan to secure the release of all hostages held in Gaza, a government statement said after US president Donald Trump announced a ceasefire and hostage release agreement.
An announcement posted on the Israeli government website said:
Government meeting at 18:00 (1500 GMT). Agenda – Plan for the release of all Israeli hostages.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced overnight that he would be convening a cabinet meeting Thursday to approve a plan for the release of hostages.
Patrick Wintour
Diplomats from the US, Canada, Europe and Arab states are gathering in Paris today for a meeting that will focus on the implementation of the “day after” plans set out by the UN, which are separate and different from US president Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza.
The talks in Egypt have largely been focused on the prisoner and hostage releases, but the discussions in Paris have focused on other issues including the Hamas handover of weapons, its exclusion from future administrations, the mandate of an international peacekeeping force, the delivery of resumed aid flows and any future relationship between Gaza and the West Bank as the nucleus of a future Palestinian state. On almost all these issues there are deep differences between Israel and the US on the one hand and Europe and the Arab states on the other.
Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, will now not attend the Paris meeting – something blamed on the US government shutdown. Other US officials will attend.
European leaders are anxious that, as in the case of Ukraine, they are not squeezed out of the talks, and they are involved in the second phase of the peace plan about the political and institutional backdrop to the reconstruction of Gaza.
At the centre of the discussions about Gaza’s future is former UK prime minister Tony Blair, who is due to sit on Trump’s “Board of Peace” or interim government that will oversee a group of technocrats that help implement reconstruction plans.
Arab leaders are want the international stabilisation force to have a UN security council mandate, and there is a clear plan to treat Gaza and the West Bank as one political entity.
One of the most difficult issues is the timing of the hand-over of weapons by Hamas, including the body to which the weapons are handed, and whether personal weapons will be included. Amnesties may be granted to those that disavow violence.
Hamas may be willing to supply weapons to an Arab run ISF, but not to Israel. Work is also under way on a revised constitution and elections for the Palestinian Authority, the heavily criticised political entity based in the West Bank opposed to the Islamist Hamas in Gaza.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews president Phil Rosenberg has reacted to the news that Hamas and Israel have agreed to the ‘first phase’ of a plan to pause fighting and release some hostages and prisoners.
In a statement released on Thursday, Rosenberg said:
The overnight news of an agreement to bring an end to the nightmare unleashed by Hamas on 7 October means that for the first time in two years, we can dare to hope for the release of all the hostages, and the conclusion of this terrible war.
We convey our deep appreciation to President Trump, the mediators, and most of all, the indefatigable campaigning of the hostage families whose courage, resilience, and determination has been a beacon to the world.
We will celebrate the return of those living and praying for their swift recovery and care, and we will mourn the returning dead, thinking of their loved ones in their time of grief.
It is time for healing. It is time for peace.
Reuters has a breaking news line from an Israeli official who has said the release of 20 Israeli hostages from Gaza is expected on Sunday or Monday.
More details soon …
WHO ready to 'scale up' health response after Gaza ceasefire, says director general
The World Health Organization (WHO) director general hailed on Thursday the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas as “a big step towards lasting peace”, saying his agency was prepared to “scale up” health assistance in Gaza.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X:
WHO stands ready to scale up its work to meet the dire health needs of patients across Gaza, and to support rehabilitation of the destroyed health system.
German chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday that Germany is still observing the situation regarding the Gaza ceasfire deal but is confident a solution will be found this week.
“We are encouraged by the developments in Israel. There is obviously a great chance of reaching an agreement with Hamas in the next few hours,” Merz said after a meeting with senior members of his governing coalition in Berlin.
Meanwhile, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez on Thursday hailed the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, saying he hoped “this marks the beginning of a just and lasting peace”. He added:
Now it is time to engage in dialogue, to support the civilian population, and to look to the future with hope. But also with justice and with remembrance, so that the atrocities experienced are never repeated.
The Spanish leader is one of the most vocal critics in Europe of Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian territory.
UK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said the Gaza ceasefire plan must be implemented as quickly as possible.
Speaking to reporters at Hillsborough Castle, where she is hosting a western Balkans summit, the foreign secretary said:
The agreement on the first phase of President [Donald] Trump’s peace initiative is a moment of profound significance, relief and hope. And I want to pay tribute to the negotiators from the US, from Qatar, from Egypt, from Turkey, and all the many nations who have been working so hard over many months to help get to this point.
After two years of the most devastating suffering, with tens of thousands of lives being lost, with the pain of hostages held for so long, and with the humanitarian crisis taking place, the agreement now to a ceasefire, to the restoration of humanitarian aid and to the release of all the hostages is immensely important and must be implemented as swiftly as possible.
She added:
Later today I will be travelling from here with the German foreign minister, my colleague, to Paris for the discussions later today about how all nations can support the immensely work that has been done thus far on President Trump’s peace initiative, but also how we make sure that we take it forward.
Cooper added that the UK “stands ready to play our part” in implementing the Gaza ceasefire plan.
The UK will help realise not just the initial phase of the plan to end fighting in Gaza, she said, “but also on the crucial work going forward now on phase two as well”.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, she said:
Because that work will continue as nations across the world come together to support a just and lasting peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis alike.
We have seen some of the images of relief and hope on the streets of Gaza and on the streets of Israel overnight, and all nations will want to make sure that that is turned into reality.
Macron says hopes Gaza peace plan will lead to 'political solution based on the two-state solution'
Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that he welcomed the agreement to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, adding France will continue to hold talks with international partners to seek a political solution to the war.
Macron said in posts on social media platform X:
Great hope for the hostages and their families, for the Palestinians in Gaza, and for the entire region. I welcome the agreement reached overnight for the release of the hostages and the ceasefire in Gaza, and I commend the efforts of President @realDonaldTrump, as well as the Qatari, Egyptian, and Turkish mediators who helped make it happen.
I call on all parties to strictly uphold its terms. This agreement must mark the end of the war and the beginning of a political solution based on the two-state solution. France stands ready to contribute to this goal. We will discuss it this afternoon in Paris with our international partners.
Palestinian president Abbas welcomes Gaza deal
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas hailed a Gaza ceasefire deal agreed by Israel and Hamas on Thursday, saying he hoped it could lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) report that in a statement on social media, Abbas “welcomed the announcement by US President Donald Trump of an agreement to cease the war on the Gaza Strip,” and “expressed hope that these efforts would be a prelude to reaching a permanent political solution … leading to an end to the Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state”.
Reuters are reporting that Israeli hostages may be released as early as Saturday. US president Donald Trump told Fox News the hostages would probably be released on Monday.
However a source briefed on details of the ceasefire agreement told Reuters that Israeli hostages may be released as early as Saturday and that the country’s military will complete the first part of a partial withdrawal from the territory within 24 hours of the deal being sealed.
The signing of the agreement is expected to take place at noon Israel time (9am GMT/10am BST) on Thursday, said the source.
Israel’s security cabinet and government are due to hold meetings on the agreement at 5pm Israel time (2pm GMT/3pm BST), reports Reuters.
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday hailed the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and said Italy was ready to help rebuild the devastated Palestinian territory.
The agreement, which follows a 20-point peace plan for Gaza announced last month by US president Donald Trump, is to be signed Thursday in Egypt. It calls for Hamas to free the remaning hostages and for Israel to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that Meloni said in a statement:
The agreement reached in Egypt for the implementation of the first phase of President Trump’s peace plan is extraordinary news.
I urge all parties to fully respect the measures already agreed upon … Italy will continue to support the efforts of the mediators and is ready to contribute to the stabilisation, reconstruction, and development of Gaza.
Israel’s far-right finance minister says he will not vote in favour of Gaza deal
Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Thursday that militant group Hamas must be destroyed after the return of hostages from Gaza.
According to Reuters, far-right politician Smotrich said he will not vote in favour of a ceasefire deal with Hamas to end the war in Gaza, but stopped short of threatening to bring down prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government.
Smotrich wrote on X:
There is immense fear of the consequences of emptying the prisons and releasing the next generation of terrorist leaders who will do everything to continue to pour rivers of Jewish blood here, God forbid.
For this reason alone, we cannot join in shortsighted celebrations or vote in favour of the deal.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed satisfaction on Thursday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza and thanked Donald Trump’s efforts to end the war.
Erdogan said on his official X account:
I am greatly pleased that the Hamas-Israel talks … have resulted in a ceasefire in Gaza.
I especially thank US President, Mr Trump, who demonstrated the necessary political will to encourage the Israeli government toward the ceasefire.
Here are some images coming in via the newswires of celebrations in Gaza and Israel after the news that Hamas and Israel have agreed to the ‘first phase’ of a plan to pause fighting and release some hostages and prisoners:
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday welcomed the agreement to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza and commended the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.
“Now, all parties must fully uphold the terms of the agreement. All hostages must be released safely. A permanent ceasefire must be established. The suffering must end,” she posted on social media, adding that the EU would keep supporting aid deliveries to Gaza and stood ready to help with reconstruction.
In a post on X, she wrote:
I welcome the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, based on the proposal put forward by @POTUS.
I commend the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye in achieving this breakthrough. Am also encouraged by the support of the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Now, all parties must fully uphold the terms of the agreement. All hostages must be released safely. A permanent ceasefire must be established. The suffering must end.
The EU will continue to support the swift and safe delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. And when the time comes, we will be ready to help with recovery and reconstruction.
Today’s opportunity should be seized. It’s the opportunity to forge a credible political path toward lasting peace and security. A path firmly anchored in the two-state solution.
Israel army says preparing to pull back troops in Gaza as part of deal
The Israeli military said on Thursday it was preparing to pull back troops in Gaza after Israel and Hamas agreed a ceasefire deal to free the remaining hostages.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that the military said in a statement:
The [Israel Defense Forces] IDF has begun operational preparations ahead of the implementation of the agreement.
As part of this process, preparations and a combat protocol are under way to transition to adjusted deployment lines soon.
Israel and Hamas’s agreement to the initial phases of a plan to end fighting in Gaza is “a very hopeful moment”, UK cabinet minister Pat McFadden has said.
According to the PA news agency, the work and pensions secretary said:
I think we’ve got more hope this morning than we’ve had for a long time.
He told Times Radio that US president Donald Trump will “deserve credit” for his role in the ceasefire plan but so did other mediators.
McFadden added:
I think he does deserve credit for this, I think the mediators deserve credit, and I think it opens up potentially big possibilities, not just as I say in the immediate few days, but for the longer term future.
And that takes us back to the 20-point plan that was released by the United States about a week ago, which has the support of the UK fovernment, as the prime minister made clear at our party conference last week.
So it’s a very hopeful moment, and as I say, let’s hope that the hostages are released in the next few days, and hope that the suffering of the people of Gaza can stop and we can get the humanitarian aid that’s needed and then rebuild from there.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has added her voice to the world leaders welcoming the Israel-Hamas deal, saying the agreement marks a significant breakthrough, Reuters is reporting.
Analysis: Gaza truce deal a crucial moment but devil is in the detail
Andrew Roth
For Donald Trump, a peace deal – or even a durable ceasefire between Israel and Hamas – could be the biggest diplomatic achievement of his presidency.
The details and sequencing of a deal to end Israel’s war in Gaza remain murky, but the statement of purpose by both Israel and Hamas is meaningful. In agreeing to a deal with political backing from Arab states and other regional powers, this is the best chance for an end to the war since a ceasefire broke down in March returning Gaza to a grinding war.
Since March there have been rumblings of a deal but nothing that has come this close. The first phase of the plan is straightforward: the return of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a limited withdrawal by the Israeli military. But locating all the hostages, and managing an Israeli withdrawal, could be complicated.
There is so much left to be discussed. The 20-point peace plan proposed by the Trump administration attempts to thread the needle between creating the conditions for a ceasefire and negotiating a lasting end to the war. The hard questions of Hamas’ future and whether the militant group will disarm, along with Israel’s vision for the future of Gaza, remain to be hammered out.
We have been here before. And yet, this is a crucial moment.
You can read the full analysis here:
