Middle East ticker Trump is about to address the Israeli parliament +++ Hamas is said to have released all living hostages

On October 7, 2023, terrorist commandos from the Islamist Hamas attacked Israel, massacred the civilian population and kidnapped more than 240 people. Israel responded with a military operation in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. The developments in the ticker.

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11 a.m.
Hamas has handed over 13 hostages to the Red Cross
Islamist Hamas has handed over the last 13 hostages kidnapped from Israel to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the Gaza Strip. This was announced by the Israeli army, citing information from the ICRC.
Meanwhile, people in Jerusalem are eagerly awaiting the appearance of US President Donald Trump.
10.25 am
Trump arrives in the Knesset
US President Donald Trump has arrived at the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem during his trip to the Middle East. TV footage showed him being greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Afterwards, Trump wrote in a guest book: "It was a great honor for him. This is a great and beautiful day. A new beginning.
Trump is expected to address the Knesset soon.
10.03 am
EU to launch deployment of border guards
The EU will contribute border protection experts to the implementation of the peace plan for the Gaza Strip.
A civilian mission to monitor the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will be resumed on Wednesday, EU foreign affairs representative Kaja Kallas announced on the fringes of a trip to Kiev.
9.50 a.m.
All living hostages released
According to reports from Israel and the Gaza Strip, Hamas has just handed over the 13 remaining live hostages to the Red Cross. This means that all hostages still alive have been released.
9.34 a.m.
Red Cross on the way to another hostage handover
Following the release of the first seven hostages by the Islamist Hamas, the handover of further hostages in the Gaza Strip is imminent. According to information available, the Red Cross is on its way to another meeting point in the southern part of the coastal area sealed off by Israel, the Israeli army announced this morning.
There, several hostages are to be handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross
8.59 a.m.
Released hostages reach Israel
The first seven hostages released by Hamas are back in Israel. They recently crossed the border, the armed forces announced on Platform X on Monday. They are to meet their relatives in southern Israel.
🟡 Operation “Returning Home”

The returning hostages, Eitan Mor, Alon Ohel, Ziv Berman, Gali Berman, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Omri Miran and Matan Angrest, accompanied by IDF and ISA forces, crossed the border into the State of Israel a short while ago.

They are currently on their way…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 13, 2025
8.58 am
Trump lands in Israel
President Trump arrives Tel Aviv, Israel for Gaza deal. pic.twitter.com/GsqluNIidX
— Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) October 13, 2025
US President Donald Trump has just landed in Israel. Video footage shows this.
8.31 a.m.
First hostages handed over to Israeli army
The first seven hostages released by the Islamist group Hamas are in the hands of the Israeli army. This was announced by the military after the transfer by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
After 738 days in captivity in Gaza, Matan, Gali, Ziv, Alon, Eitan, Omri and Guy are coming home. 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/gklAwKhG1u
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 13, 2025
7.44 a.m.
Red Cross speaks of "complicated operation"
The complicated operation to hand over the remaining hostages from Israel in the Gaza Strip has begun. This was announced by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
"The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has launched a multi-phase operation to facilitate the release and transfer of hostages and detainees under a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas," the organization announced. "The ICRC will also facilitate the transfer of the remains of the deceased so that families can bury their loved ones with dignity."
We have started a multi-phase operation to facilitate the release and transfer of hostages and detainees as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

More details here: https://t.co/IE7zX7zlM1 pic.twitter.com/dbdEHsg8iq
— ICRC in Israel & OT (@ICRC_ilot) October 13, 2025
The ICRC emphasizes its role as a neutral mediator that was not involved in the negotiations over the release. It is the responsibility of the parties to ensure safety and dignity. Out of respect for those affected, the ICRC will not publish pictures of those released or videos of the handover, it said.
7.33 a.m.
Cheers in Tel Aviv
7.26 a.m.
"Thank you Trump"
US President is on his way to Israel, he is due to land shortly after 8 a.m. (CEST). He is greeted on the beach in Tel Aviv with a huge banner reading "Thank you" and "Home".
AS TRUMP FLIES IN 🇺🇸🇮🇱

As President Trump is expected to fly over Tel Aviv aboard Air Force One on his way to Israel —
this is the view awaiting him:
a massive “THANK YOU” spread across the sands of Tel Aviv beach, visible from the sky.

A message from the people of Israel —… pic.twitter.com/UYL34lsQY1
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) October 13, 2025
7.24 a.m.
These 7 hostages have been released
According to media reports, the seven freed hostages are Gali and Ziv Berman, Matan Angrest, Alon Ohel, Omri Miran, Eitan Mor and Guy Gilboa-Dalla.
Anxious waiting in IsraelThese are the 20 hostages still alive in the Gaza Strip
7.17 a.m.
First seven hostages are released
After more than two years in captivity, the release of the first hostages held by the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip has begun. Several Israeli media reported this morning that seven of the people kidnapped from Israel had been handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
7.07 a.m.
Israeli rescue service on standby
Magen David Adom, Israel's rescue service, is ready to provide medical care for the hostages after their release. "All resources have been mobilized, the teams are prepared for all scenarios," he says on X.
Magen David Adom teams stand ready to assist IDF medical forces and the Health Ministry as the hostages return home. All resources mobilized, teams prepared for any scenario. pic.twitter.com/wxeskshyC2
— Magen David Adom (@Mdais) October 13, 2025
7 a.m.
Red Cross on the way to the handover meeting point
The Red Cross is on its way to a meeting point in the northern Gaza Strip where several hostages will be handed over to them, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on X. The IDF also stated that it is ready to receive more hostages to be handed over to the Red Cross later.
🚁 After 738 days in captivity, our IAF helicopter is ready to meet our hostages and bring them back home. pic.twitter.com/rAlgtqihFo
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 13, 2025
6.52 a.m.
Hamas publishes list of names of 20 living hostages
The Islamist terrorist organization Hamas has published a list of names of 20 living hostages ahead of their expected release. The military arm of Hamas, the Kassam Brigades, had "decided to release the following living Zionist prisoners", read the headline of the list sent on Telegram. The names of those to be released correspond to those known so far.
Anxious waiting in IsraelThese are the 20 hostages still alive in the Gaza Strip
6.45 a.m.
Hostage release to begin shortly
An Israeli army security official has confirmed that the first hostages will be released in less than 15 minutes. "The IDF is preparing for the transfer and return of the hostages in the coming morning hours, starting at 8 a.m. (7 a.m. CEST) in the northern Gaza Strip, as part of the implementation of the agreement," the official said.
"Times are subject to change, and as soon as new information becomes available, we will inform." The Israeli Air Force also said on X that two helicopters were standing by to take the hostages home.
6:20 a.m.
Israel awards Donald Trump highest order of merit
Israeli head of state Izchak Herzog wants to award US President Donald Trump the country's highest civilian order of merit, the Presidential Medal. Trump will be honored for his commitment to the return of the hostages, the security of Israel and the well-being of its citizens, Herzog's office announced on Monday. The President will inform Trump during his visit to Israel on Monday and present him with the medal in the coming months, the statement said.
6.12am
Reports: Hostage families go to reception center
Before the release of the first hostages in the Gaza Strip began, some of their relatives made their way to the Israeli military camp Reim on the edge of the coastal strip, according to media reports. The hostages are to be taken there after they were handed over to employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) by the Islamist Hamas. According to reports, the release will begin at 8 a.m. local time (7 a.m. CEST) and will take place in two groups.
Some hostages from the central Gaza Strip are to be released first, followed at 10 a.m. local time by the others from Chan Junis in the south and other areas of the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli sources, a total of 20 people have been kidnapped. The Times of Israel initially reported that the second round of releases would take place at 9 a.m. local time, shortly before the planned arrival of US President Donald Trump in Israel. The reason for the delay was initially unclear, it said.
At the Reim military camp on the edge of the Gaza Strip, there will be a first reunion with relatives, a medical examination and the opportunity to shower and change clothes. The released hostages will then be flown to hospitals for further treatment. In return, Israel must release almost 2000 Palestinian prisoners in accordance with the ceasefire agreement.
5.53 a.m.
Palestinian President Abbas also expected to meet in Egypt
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is also expected to attend a meeting with US President Donald Trump and heads of state and government from many other countries in Egypt. Abbas, head of the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, will travel to Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, his advisor Mahmoud al-Habbash told the AP news agency.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had always rejected the idea that Abbas and his Palestinian Authority could take on a leading role after the war in the Gaza Strip. However, Trump's peace plan holds out the prospect of this possibility, provided the Palestinian Authority is reformed.
Egyptian head of state Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi invited to a peace ceremony following the agreement between Israel and Hamas. Trump will travel there from Israel after meeting relatives of Israeli hostages and giving a speech to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.
4.49 pm
Israelis await the return of the hostages
In Israel, thousands of people gathered in the early hours of the morning in "Hostages' Square" in the center of the coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv in anticipation of the return of the last hostages from the Gaza Strip. The forum plans to broadcast the return of the hostages to Israel on large screens. In a live broadcast on YouTube by the Forum of Hostage Families, people are sitting on chairs in yellow, symbolizing solidarity with the hostages. They are also carrying blue and white Israeli flags. According to the Times of Israel, the Islamist Hamas is expected to begin releasing the live hostages at around 8 a.m. local time (7 a.m. CEST).
According to Israeli sources, there are 20 abductees. The relatives' forum plans to broadcast the return of the hostages to Israel on large screens. It had called on the public to gather overnight in the hostages' square in Tel Aviv. According to the Times of Israel, volunteers set up banners welcoming the hostages in the streets around the hospitals where they are to be taken.
"The implementation of the agreement to return all hostages is an event we have been hoping and preparing for since the first days of the war," reads a statement released by the forum early this morning. "We now have an important and shared task ahead of us: the rehabilitation of the released hostages, their families, the affected communities and Israeli society as a whole," it continued. Full rehabilitation will only be possible "when all hostages have returned - the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for burial in Israel".
Israel's military does not assume that Hamas will be able to hand over all 28 dead hostages today - and thus within the 72-hour period agreed as part of the ceasefire. There is concern in Israel that Hamas will not be able to find all the bodies in the largely destroyed Gaza Strip, or that it will claim to have done so. In addition to Hamas, other terrorist groups also took part in the attack in Israel on October 7, 2023. Around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage in Gaza.
In return for the handover of the last hostage by Hamas, Israel must release almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in accordance with the agreement. Among them are up to 250 who have been sentenced to life imprisonment.
4.26 a.m.
Situation in the Gaza Strip desperate
After two years of war, the situation for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which is sealed off by Israel, is desperate. Hundreds of thousands of people have to find their way in a largely destroyed landscape of rubble, probably littered with unexploded ordnance, in which they can only survive with permanent outside help.
Since the beginning of the ceasefire, Israel has allowed more aid supplies to enter the area: around 600 trucks are expected to arrive every day. According to the UN, this is the minimum amount needed to provide the population with at least the bare necessities. According to Israeli security circles, it should also be possible to repair water pipes, sewage systems and bakeries, for example.
Israel's President Izchak Herzog had said on the eve of the planned handover of the abductees at the so-called Hostage Square in Tel Aviv that many of Israel's enemies and critics tended to accuse the country of seeking a constant struggle against its opponents. This is not true. "As soon as the hostages are back, Israel will not go to war. Israel is committed to respecting this agreement and wants to strive for peace with its neighbors and finally bring about a change in the future of the region," he said.
However, it is not foreseeable whether the agreement will lead to a longer-term end to the fighting in Gaza. Two of the biggest points of contention remain the disarmament of Hamas, which is provided for in Trump's peace plan, and the complete withdrawal of Israel's army from the area. Following an agreed withdrawal, it continues to occupy around half of Gaza. Hamas also continues to deny Israel's right to exist; Netanyahu and his far-right government partners want to smash Hamas completely.
4.23 pm
Trump: Gaza war is over
According to US President Donald Trump, the war in the Gaza Strip is over, regardless of the further peace negotiations that are still pending. "The war is over," the Republican told journalists on board Air Force One on his way to Israel. He assumed that the ceasefire would hold.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on the other hand, had previously said that the fighting was not yet over. "There are still major security challenges ahead of us." Some enemies were trying to recover in order to attack again, the Israeli head of government had said.
Netanyahu spoke of a "historic event" on the eve of the expected handover of the hostages. It was "the beginning of a new path. A path of reconstruction, a path of healing," he said in a video address. In addition to the joy over the return of the kidnapped hostages, the day would also be marked by sadness over "the release of the murderers", he added with regard to the Palestinian prisoners to be released.
Trump plans to meet relatives of the hostages in Israel this morning (local time) and then give a speech to the Knesset - the Israeli parliament. In the afternoon, he will then travel on to the Egyptian coastal town of Sharm el-Sheikh for a "Middle East peace ceremony" to mark the agreement he brokered between Israel and Hamas. More than 20 heads of state and government are expected there, including from Europe and the Arab world. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will also be attending.
4.21 a.m.
Israel awaits hostages
The whole world has been waiting for this moment: In the coming hours, the handover of the last remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip by the Islamist Hamas is to begin in camera. They are to be handed over to employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at three locations, as the German Press Agency has learned from Hamas circles. According to Israeli sources, there are 20 abductees. In return, Israel must release almost 2000 Palestinian prisoners from its prisons in accordance with the ceasefire agreement. Among them are up to 250 who have been sentenced to life imprisonment.
After the hostages are handed over to ICRC staff, the abductees are then to be handed over to the Israeli military within the coastal strip. At the Reim military camp on the edge of the Gaza Strip, there will be a first reunion with relatives, a medical examination and the opportunity to shower and change clothes. The people will then be flown to hospitals for further treatment. The mortal remains of 27 other Hamas hostages and an Israeli soldier who was killed in 2014 are also to be handed over to Israel.
Monday, October 13, 2025, 0:23 a.m.
London announces its own Gaza conference
Great Britain also wants to hold a conference on the future of the Gaza Strip. This will be announced by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Egypt, according to the London seat of government. There he will take part in the ceremony for the signing of the peace plan. The German government had previously announced its intention to organize a reconstruction conference with Egypt. The UK will play a leading role in the next phase of the peace plan brokered by US President Donald Trump, Starmer will explain, the statement added.
I’m in Egypt, where I’ll meet with international leaders to mark the first, crucial step towards peace in the Middle East.

The UK stands ready to support rebuilding Gaza and we will work with partners to secure a stable future for the region.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 12, 2025
23:18
Trump before departure to Israel: "Everyone is cheering at the same time"
US President Donald Trump is on his way to the Middle East. Before boarding the government plane in Washington, he told journalists about the successful negotiations in the Gaza war: "Everyone is cheering at the same time. This has never happened before. Normally only one person cheers while the other does the opposite." This is the first time that everyone has been delighted. Trump added that he was honored to be involved - they would have a "great time". "It will be something that has never been done before."
Trump is traveling to Israel to first meet hostage families on Monday morning (local time) and then give a speech to the Knesset - the Israeli parliament. In the afternoon, Trump plans to travel on to the Egyptian coastal town of Sharm el-Sheikh for a "Middle East peace ceremony" to mark the agreement he brokered between Israel and the Islamist Hamas. According to the White House plan, the President will be back in Washington on Tuesday night (local time).
23.03
Military does not expect all dead hostages to be handed over on Monday
The Israeli military does not expect that the Islamist Hamas will be able to hand over all the dead hostages on Monday and thus within the agreed 72-hour deadline. The survivors are still expected to be handed over on Monday morning, but there is no fixed date yet, said a military representative. The army is ready "at any time" to take over those released and is prepared for various scenarios.
According to the military, the procedure is likely to be the same as the last time hostages were taken: Hamas will hand over the released hostages to staff from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who will in turn hand them over to the Israeli military inside the coastal strip.
In the reception center, which has been specially built for the expected group of 20 living hostages, there will be a first reunion with relatives, a medical examination and the opportunity to shower and change clothes. The people will then be flown to various hospitals for further treatment.
During the last phase of the negotiations on the US peace plan, it was repeatedly stated that Hamas did not know the whereabouts of all the mortal remains of the dead hostages. The Israeli military referred to Hamas' obligation under the ceasefire agreement to hand over all 48 hostages, both living and dead.
21:55
Two Knesset members want to boycott Trump speech
At least two Israeli MPs want to boycott US President Donald Trump's expected speech in the Knesset on Monday. Trump's peace plan, which facilitated a ceasefire and the expected handover of the hostages early Monday morning, is the opposite of winning the war, MP Amit Halevi was quoted as saying in Israeli media. Halevi belongs to the Likud party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The agreement is controversial in parts of Netanyahu's governing coalition as, in addition to the return of the hostages, it also provides for the release of around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including those sentenced to life imprisonment.
The chairman of the ultra-Orthodox nationalist Noam party, Avi Maoz, also announced that he would stay away from the Trump appearance.
21:18
Relatives of hostage: tension is high
Shortly before the planned release of the 20 remaining Hamas hostages, the tension is high among their relatives. "We will only really be able to breathe a sigh of relief when he is back on Israeli soil," said Alana Zeitchik, a relative of hostage David Cunio.
The whole family has been in shock since they received the news of Cunio's imminent release. His wife and twin daughters had also been abducted by Hamas and were released in November 2023. The wife had received help on how to explain the imminent return of her father to her daughters, Zeitchik said. Now, however, everyone is naturally concerned about Cunio's condition after two years of captivity in a war zone.
20.53
Expected hostage return: Netanyahu speaks of historic event
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken of a "historic event" ahead of the expected handover of the hostages from the Gaza Strip. "Tomorrow is the beginning of a new path. A path of reconstruction, a path of healing," Netanyahu said in a video address. In addition to the joy over the return of the kidnapped hostages, the day will also be marked by sadness over "the release of the murderers", he added in an obvious allusion to the Palestinian prisoners that Israel wants to release in return for the hostages.
Israel had achieved enormous victories by joining forces, Netanyahu emphasized. But the battle is not over yet. "There are still major security challenges ahead of us." According to the head of government, some enemies were trying to recover in order to attack again.
President Izchak Herzog had said shortly beforehand at the so-called Hostage Square in Tel Aviv that many of Israel's enemies and critics tended to accuse the country of seeking a constant battle against its opponents. This is not true. "As soon as the hostages are back, Israel will not go to war. Israel is committed to respecting this agreement and wants to strive for peace with its neighbors and finally bring about a change in the future of the region," he said.
It is planned that Hamas will hand over the hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross in secret. According to sources within the terrorist organization, all living and, if possible, dead hostages will be handed over by Monday morning at 5.00 a.m. (Swiss time). After meetings with relatives and an initial medical examination at the Reim military camp on the edge of the Gaza Strip, the released hostages are expected to be flown to hospitals. 48 of the hostages abducted on October 7, 2023 are still in the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli information, 20 of them are still alive.
7.52 pm
UN: Cooking gas delivered to the Gaza Strip for the first time since March
According to the UN, cooking gas has been delivered to the suffering Palestinian population for the first time since March as a result of the expansion of aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. Flour, fruit and meat have also been delivered to the Gaza Strip, said Eri Kaneko from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha).
The agreement on a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners has also been accompanied by a significant increase in humanitarian aid deliveries. According to Cogat, the Israeli authority responsible for Palestinian affairs, 600 trucks of humanitarian aid are to be delivered to the Gaza Strip every day with immediate effect, as agreed.
18:53
Hamas circles: Hostage handover at three locations in the Gaza Strip
The Islamist Hamas wants to hand over the hostages who were abducted two years ago and are still alive to employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at three different locations in the Gaza Strip. The German Press Agency learned this from Hamas circles. Monday morning was given as the time of the handover. According to Israeli reports, however, this could happen earlier.
As part of the agreement between Israel and Hamas, all dead hostages are to be handed over if possible. A 72-hour deadline for the handover expires on Monday afternoon.
According to Israel, 20 of the 48 hostages are still alive. There is concern that Hamas may not hand over all the remains. The massive destruction in the Gaza Strip, which could prevent the bodies from being found, was cited in media reports as the reason for this.
15.56
Spokeswoman: Hostages will be released Monday morning
The hostages held in Gaza will be released early Monday morning. This was reported by CNN, citing a spokeswoman for the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The 20 live hostages will all be released at the same time, Shosh Bedrosian added, and will be transferred to the care of the Red Cross before eventually being brought to Israel.
15:23
Ceasefire allows recovery of bodies in Gaza Strip
The entry into force of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has enabled dozens of bodies to be recovered over the weekend, some of which had been buried under rubble for days or weeks or were lying in inaccessible areas. Jasser el-Bureis told the AP news agency that he and his relatives had finally been able to bring two dead cousins to the morgue of the Nasser Hospital in Chan Junis, who had been killed while fleeing their homes. "For five months we couldn't recover the bodies," he said.
According to the health authorities in the Gaza Strip, more than 100 other bodies were recovered on Friday and Saturday and taken to hospitals.
14:06
Netanyahu: Israel ready to take hostages immediately
According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel is prepared to immediately accept the hostages who are to be released by the Islamist Hamas. Netanyahu's office announced that the Prime Minister had spoken to hostage envoy Gal Hirsch on the issue. "Israel is prepared and ready to receive all our hostages immediately," Netanyahu said.
A 72-hour deadline for the release of the hostages as part of US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan expires on Monday afternoon. Hamas sources have so far said that the terrorist organization will hand over all living and, if possible, dead hostages by 5.00 a.m. CEST on Monday morning.
It was initially unclear whether Netanyahu's announcement meant that this could also happen on Sunday. The Israeli TV station N12 reported that the release was expected to take place during the course of Monday night.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Hamas had informed Israel via Arab intermediaries that it had gathered 20 live hostages and was ready to release them on Sunday. This is also the first time that Hamas has confirmed that 20 of the hostages abducted in the massacre on October 7, 2023 are alive. According to Israeli information, a total of 48 hostages are still in the Gaza Strip, including one woman. A total of seven of the hostages are also German citizens.
Sunday, October 12, 10:07 a.m.
Israel: All Hamas tunnels must be destroyed
Even after the ceasefire with the Islamist Hamas, Israel plans to destroy all remaining underground tunnels in the Gaza Strip in which the terror organization's fighters are holed up. Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote on Platform X: "Israel's major challenge after the hostage return phase will be the destruction of all Hamas terror tunnels in the Gaza Strip."
This should be done both directly by the Israeli army and "through the international mechanism that will be established under the leadership and supervision of the US", Katz wrote. He had instructed the army to "prepare to carry out this task". The goal remains to demilitarize the Gaza Strip and disarm the terrorist organization Hamas.
After an initial withdrawal of the Israeli army, the military still controls 53 percent of the Gaza Strip, according to media reports.
20:57
Cheers for Trump, whistles for Netanyahu in Tel Aviv
Shortly before the hoped-for release of the last Gaza hostages, US special envoy Steve Witkoff emphasized the decisive role of US President Donald Trump. "We are all deeply indebted to President Trump," Witkoff told relatives and friends of the abductees as well as numerous participants at a large rally in Tel Aviv. As soon as the name Trump was mentioned, Witkoff was interrupted by prolonged applause and shouts of "Thank you Trump". A spokesman for the family members said there were around 400,000 people in the square.
At the same time, Witkoff, who was accompanied by Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, paid tribute to the strength and patience of the relatives and the Israeli people. "Thank you for showing that the future of this region can be built not on the rubble of old hatred, but on the promise of shared hope," Wittkoff said. "I have long dreamed of this evening," said the special envoy.
When Witkoff also emphasized the role of Israel's head of government Benjamin Netanyahu, however, the cheers turned into boos and whistles that almost knocked Witkoff off his feet. "People, let me finish my thoughts," he pleaded. Netanyahu had given everything for this country, he emphasized. However, many relatives and friends of the hostages accuse Netanyahu of not having done enough for the release of the abductees.
20:52
Israel in shock after suicide of survivor of Hamas massacre
The suicide of a survivor of the Hamas massacre at the Nova music festival caused shock and grief in Israel on Saturday. The body of Roei Shalev, whose girlfriend was killed in front of him in the attack on October 7, 2023, was discovered north of Tel Aviv, according to Israeli media reports. He had previously made his suicidal thoughts public on online networks.
"I can no longer bear this pain. I'm burning inside ... I just want the pain to stop," Shalev wrote on Instagram. A few hours later on Friday evening, his body was discovered in his burnt-out car north of Tel Aviv.
Roei Shalev has committed suicide.

He was shot & saw his girlfriend Mapal and his best friend Hilly get murdered by Hamas terrorists at the Nova Music Festival.

His last message on Instagram read: “I can’t take this pain anymore. I’m alive, but everything inside me is gone” pic.twitter.com/apnd5dwpHV
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 11, 2025
Shalev's girlfriend Mapal Adam had been murdered in front of his eyes at the Nova music festival in southern Israel during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The two had been trying to hide under cars when the radical Islamic militants launched their unprecedented attack on southern Israel.
Two weeks after the massacre, Shalev's mother committed suicide. According to Israeli media reports, she was very close to Adam and was devastated by her death.
18:43
Palestine demo participants in Bern prevented from blocking train station
Early on Saturday evening, police prevented an occupation of Bern's main railway station by participants in the unauthorized Palestine rally. According to the police, demonstrators had announced their intention to block the train tracks.
After 6 p.m., the demonstrators retreated under the glass canopy on the station square, as reporters from the Keystone-SDA news agency observed. Gradually, the ranks of the demonstrators thinned out. However, the police were still using water cannons against the several hundred demonstrators at around 6.30 pm.
The police had previously encircled demonstrators near the Bundeshaus. This resulted in a fire and the fire department arrived. Damage to property had already occurred beforehand.
5.04 p.m.
Hamas representative rules out disarmament
A representative of the radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas has ruled out laying down arms. The disarmament envisaged in US President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan "is out of the question and is not negotiable", the Hamas representative told the AFP news agency on Saturday. Trump had previously stated that disarming Hamas was part of the second phase of his peace plan for the Gaza Strip.
16.45
Police stop unauthorized demonstration in Bern - attacks on emergency services
Several thousand people marched through Bern's old town on Saturday afternoon to demonstrate against the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip. A masked block led the demonstration. The participants set off petards and fireworks, including in the direction of the emergency services. "Shame on you", chanted the crowd.
The police were on the move with a large contingent. Emergency services from other cantons were also on site, as a reporter from the Keystone-SDA news agency reported.
An der unbewilligten Kundgebung in #Bern beim Bundesplatz gibt es insbesondere an der Umzugsspitze Ausschreitungen. Einsatzkräfte werden angegriffen und Mittel muss eingesetzt werden. Wir raten dringend, die Kundgebung zu meiden und sich von der Örtlichkeit zu entfernen.
— Kantonspolizei Bern (@PoliceBern) October 11, 2025
The unauthorized rally met the police in front of the cordoned-off Federal Palace. They used tear gas and a water cannon to push people back. Demonstrators tried to break through police barriers, the police reported via Platform X.
There was also damage to property. No further marches through the city center would be tolerated, they said.
Saturday, October 11, 2025, 3.27 p.m.
Around 2000 people at an unauthorized pro-Palestine demonstration in Bern
An estimated 2000 people gathered on Bern's Bahnhofplatz on Saturday to demonstrate against the war in Gaza. The police maintained a strong presence and traffic was restricted in part as a preventive measure.
There was a massive police presence at the train station and in the old town, with police from other cantons also deployed. The Federal Palace was cordoned off over a wide area and sealed off with a mobile protective fence. A water cannon was also on standby.
Traffic was diverted near the station, as a reporter from the Keystone-SDA news agency observed. The demonstrators chanted "Free, free Palestine". In their slogans, they took Swiss politics in particular to task: "Bloodstained neutrality", read one banner.
19.50 hrs
Médecins Sans Frontières calls for expansion of Gaza aid
Following the start of the ceasefire in the Gaza war, the aid organization Doctors Without Borders is calling for a massive increase in the import of aid supplies into the sealed-off coastal strip. The Israeli authorities must allow "a sufficient and unhindered flow of humanitarian aid", it said in a statement published in the evening. In addition, evacuations of patients in urgent need of specialist medical care must be authorized.
"The ceasefire must now be accompanied by an immediate, massive and sustained expansion of aid in the Gaza Strip, including the north," it said. The organization pointed out that the suffering of the people in the Gaza Strip is not over: "The exhausted and starving people in Gaza must survive in the rubble of their former homes and face enormous medical, psychological and material challenges."
Israel controls access to the Gaza Strip and must give the green light and guarantee the safety of convoys. The ceasefire between Israel and the Islamist Hamas has been in force since Friday afternoon. It should also allow new aid deliveries. However, the further steps that should lead to a lasting peace have not yet been finally clarified.
6.56 pm
Netanyahu: Trump deserves Nobel Peace Prize
US President Donald Trump would have deserved the Nobel Peace Prize, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "The Nobel Committee talks about peace. President Donald Trump makes it possible. The facts speak for themselves. President Trump deserves it," Netanyahu wrote on the online platform X on Friday.
However, the prestigious prize did not go to Trump, who had recently repeatedly and loudly brought himself into play and claimed that he had ended seven wars in just seven months. The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize to the Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
14:38
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians flock north
BREAKING 🚨 Tens of thousands of Palestinians are returning to northern Gaza after a ceasefire takes effect, as Israeli forces begin to withdraw - video pic.twitter.com/1xobv7MR1d
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) October 10, 2025
Shots could still be heard during the night, but according to the Israeli military, the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has officially been in force since 12 noon on Friday.
A mixture of cautious hope and deep uncertainty prevails among the people who have experienced two years of air raids, flight and the destruction of their cities. Tens of thousands of people are streaming north, as pictures and videos on social media show.
11.43 a.m.
Ceasefire in the Gaza war begins
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip came into force at 12.00 noon (local time/11.00 CEST) as part of the agreed peace plan. This was announced by an Israeli military spokesperson. The Israeli troops had withdrawn to the agreed demarcation lines.
The start of the ceasefire marks the beginning of an agreed 72-hour period until the release of live hostages who were kidnapped from Israel on October 7, 2023. According to Israeli information, there are still 48 hostages in the Gaza Strip, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
In return, Israel will release more than 2,000 Palestinians according to the agreement - including 250 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment.
9.35 a.m.
Israeli troops have begun withdrawing from Gaza
According to media reports, the first Israeli troops withdrew from the Gaza Strip on Friday night.
In some areas of the coastal strip, the withdrawal was accompanied by artillery fire and air strikes to secure the troops, reported the Times of Israel. The withdrawal to the demarcation lines agreed in the Gaza peace plan also continued in the morning, while some troops had left the Gaza Strip completely.
According to the agreement, the troops are to withdraw within 24 hours of the Israeli cabinet's approval of the ceasefire and will then have control of 53 percent of the coastal strip in the buffer zones near the border.
7.47 a.m.
This is what the roadmap looks like now
Now that the Israeli government has agreed to the hard-won agreement with the Islamist Hamas, the way is clear for an end to the fighting, the swift return of hostages and the release of Palestinian prisoners. This is what the Middle East roadmap now looks like:
Gaza deal approvedThis is what the roadmap in the Middle East looks like now
5.47am
Israeli cabinet approves Gaza agreement with Hamas
The Israeli government has approved the hard-won agreement with the Islamist Hamas, paving the way for an immediate end to the fighting in the Gaza Strip. According to the text of the agreement published by the Kan television station, the military operations are to cease immediately following the cabinet decision and aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip are to be made possible. According to media reports, several far-right ministers in the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voted against the agreement with Hamas, including Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
2.37 a.m.
Report: Agreement provides for immediate end to fighting in Gaza
According to a report on Kan television, the agreement between Israel and the Islamist Hamas provides for an immediate end to the war in Gaza once the Israeli government has given its consent. All military operations, including air strikes and artillery fire as well as targeted operations, are to cease, according to the signed agreement, which Kan published on Platform X. In addition, aid supplies are to be delivered to the Gaza Strip immediately.
The Israeli cabinet had approved the agreement on Friday night. According to the agreement, the armed forces are to withdraw to an agreed line within 24 hours. The military will not return to evacuated areas as long as Hamas adheres to the agreement.
Within 72 hours of the withdrawal of the Israeli armed forces, all living abductees in the Gaza Strip are to be released and the bodies of dead hostages handed over. During the same period, Hamas must share information about the remains of dead hostages whose whereabouts are unclear.
At the same time, Israel will release Palestinian prisoners according to the agreement. The exchange is to be organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross without a public ceremony and without media representatives present.
0.37 pm
Israeli government approves Gaza agreement with Hamas
Following the breakthrough in the negotiations on a settlement of the Gaza war, the Israeli cabinet has also approved the agreement with the Islamist Hamas. This was announced by the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a meeting lasting several hours. Despite opposition from some far-right members of the government, the cabinet had been expected to reach a majority decision.
The government has just now approved the framework for the release of all of the hostages – the living and the deceased.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 9, 2025
The Israeli security cabinet had previously met for consultations. Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement on the first phase of the peace plan recently presented by US President Donald Trump during indirect talks in the Egyptian coastal town of Sharm el-Sheikh.
0:31 p.m.
White House: US troops to secure Gaza ceasefire
The USA wants to support compliance with the ceasefire between Israel and the Islamist Hamas with its own troops. The US military command center responsible for the region (Centcom) will provide 200 soldiers, although they will not be deployed in the Gaza Strip, senior US government officials said in a telephone conversation with journalists.
Friday, October 10, 2025, 0:18 a.m.
Trump invited to speak in Israeli parliament
Israeli Parliament Speaker Amir Ohana has officially invited US President Donald Trump to address the Knesset during his visit to Israel. Trump's speech would be a meaningful gesture of "our eternal gratitude for your unparalleled leadership and for the unbreakable alliance" between the two states, according to the invitation letter, which Ohana also posted on the X platform. "Israel awaits the President of Peace," he wrote. Trump is the "greatest friend and ally of the Jewish nation in modern history".
According to his own statements, Trump plans to leave for the Middle East on Sunday - but it is still unclear exactly when he will be at which location.
It is my profound honor and privilege to officially invite the greatest friend and ally of the Jewish people in modern history, @POTUS @realDonaldTrump, to deliver a formal address to the nation before the Knesset.

Israel awaits The Peace President. pic.twitter.com/gJl2rqSgTj
— Amir Ohana - אמיר אוחנה (@AmirOhana) October 9, 2025
21:41
Far-right minister wants to vote against Gaza deal
Israel's far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his party want to vote against an agreement on the first points of the plan to end the Gaza war. The reason is the "release of thousands of terrorists, including 250 murderers", he announced on the X platform. The Israeli government is expected to approve the deal shortly. A clear majority in favor of the agreement is expected.
Extremist Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Thursday he would vote against the US-sponsored Gaza ceasefire deal because it includes releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

"The heart of all of us fills with joy... at the fact that all the hostages are expected to… pic.twitter.com/2RZrdHLzXa
— KUWAIT TIMES (@kuwaittimesnews) October 9, 2025
9.30 p.m.
Hamas: Gaza war is completely over according to mediators
The Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas considers the Gaza war to be over. "We have received guarantees from the mediators and the US government and all have confirmed that the war is completely over," said the highest Hamas leader abroad, Khalil al-Haja, in a televised speech in the evening.
20:40
Putin promotes implementation of US peace plan and Palestinian state
Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed the breakthrough in the negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli hostages. "We very much hope that these initiatives by the US President will be implemented," Putin said on Thursday at a summit meeting with Central Asian heads of state in Tajikistan. "The most important and indispensable prerequisite for the long-term stabilization and resolution of all issues related to this difficult problem is the creation of an independent Palestinian state," Putin continued.
18:26
Trump to relatives of hostages: "They will all be back on Monday"
US President Donald Trump has spoken on the phone with relatives of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. His Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick posted a video on the X platform on Thursday of a meeting with relatives in which he had Trump on the phone and the President was cheered by those present. "The hostages will be coming home. They're all coming back on Monday," Trump said.
It was incredible to be together with the Israeli Hostages to personally congratulate President Trump, THE PEACE PRESIDENT, on the deal to bring ALL the Hostages HOME.

MONDAY!!!

Thank you thank you thank you to President Trump and his amazing team:@SecRubio@SteveWitkoff and… pic.twitter.com/jQLbiULZQA
— Howard Lutnick (@howardlutnick) October 9, 2025
Egyptian mediators and Hamas representatives also assume that the agreed release of the 20 hostages still alive will begin on Monday. However, a start on Sunday evening is also reportedly under discussion. In return, Israel is to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
09.23 am
Starmer: Gaza deal is "moment of deep relief"
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed his relief at the breakthrough in negotiations on a plan to end the war in Gaza. "This is a moment of profound relief that will be felt around the world, but particularly for the hostages, their families and the civilian population in Gaza," Starmer said in a Downing Street statement.
The agreement must be implemented "in full and without delay", he demanded, "accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid in Gaza". All parties must now fulfill their obligations in order to bring about the end of the war and a long-term peace.
A few hours ago, US President Donald Trump announced a breakthrough in the indirect talks between Israel and the Islamist Hamas in Egypt. According to the announcement, all hostages held in the Gaza Strip are to be released soon. In addition, Israel will withdraw its troops to an agreed line in the first phase of the US peace plan. Hamas confirmed the agreement.
08.11 a.m.
UN now wants to quickly provide aid in the Gaza Strip
An agreement has been reached in the indirect talks between Israel and Hamas. The United Nations hopes to be able to help the suffering people in the Gaza Strip quickly.
Following the breakthrough in the negotiations to end the war in Gaza, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher has called for action to be taken in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible. "Let's get the hostages out and deliver aid quickly," he wrote on Platform X.
"Our teams are fully mobilized to get the trucks moving on a large scale and save lives," he added. However, they needed safe access.
US President Donald Trump had previously announced a breakthrough in the indirect talks between Israel and the Islamist Hamas in Egypt. According to the agreement, all hostages held in the Gaza Strip are to be released soon. In addition, Israel will withdraw its troops to an agreed line in the first phase of the US peace plan. Hamas confirmed the agreement.
4.47 a.m.
Reports: release of live hostages at the weekend
Hamas intends to release all 20 live hostages this weekend as part of its agreement with Israel. This was reported to the AP news agency by sources familiar with the matter. The dead hostages still held by Hamas are to be handed over in stages at a later date. The Israeli army will withdraw from 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, the sources told the AP.
TV channel CNN reported, citing an Israeli source, that the hostages were expected to be released on Saturday or Sunday. Trump, however, spoke in an audio interview on Fox News about Monday.
4:30 a.m.
Israel's military is preparing "for every scenario"
The Israeli military says it is preparing to implement a first phase of the US peace plan following the agreement between Israel and Islamist Hamas. During an overnight assessment of the situation, the Chief of Staff instructed all armed forces to "prepare strong defense measures and be prepared for any scenario", the military announced. The armed forces will be deployed in accordance with the instructions of the political leadership and the phases of the agreement.
At the same time, according to the statement, the Chief of General Staff had instructed the troops to make preparations for the operation to return the hostages.
The Israeli military will "continue to work to achieve the goals of the war and defend the citizens of the State of Israel on all fronts", the statement continued.
2.57 p.m.
Guterres: Seize "unique opportunity" for two-state solution
Following the agreement between Israel and the Islamist Hamas on the implementation of a first phase of the US peace plan for the Gaza Strip, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on all parties involved to adhere to the agreement. "All hostages must be released in a dignified manner. A permanent ceasefire must be secured", emphasized Guterres in a statement. The fighting must end once and for all and the immediate and unhindered access of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip must be guaranteed. "The suffering must end", demanded the UN Secretary-General.
I welcome the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire & hostage release in Gaza, based on the proposal put forward by @POTUS. I commend the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt & Türkiye in brokering this desperately needed breakthrough.

I urge all…
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 9, 2025
Guterres praised the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, who had brokered the breakthrough at talks in Sharm el-Sheikh on Thursday night. The United Nations would support the full implementation of the agreement, expand the provision of its humanitarian aid and press ahead with reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip.
At the same time, Guterres called on all parties involved to "seize this unique opportunity" to move towards a two-state solution that would allow Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security. "Never before has so much been at stake," he emphasized.
A two-state solution means an independent Palestinian state that exists peacefully side by side with Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects a two-state solution, as does Hamas.
2.53 p.m.
Netanyahu reacts with relief to announced hostage release
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reacted with relief to the announced release of the hostages held by the Islamist Hamas. "With the agreement on the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be brought home. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel," wrote the head of government on Platform X. "From the beginning, I made it clear: We will not rest until all our hostages are returned and all our goals are achieved."
With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be brought home. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel.

From the beginning, I made it clear: we will not rest until all our hostages return and all our goals…
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 8, 2025
Thanks to determination, military measures and the efforts of US President Donald Trump, a turning point has now been reached two years after the start of the Gaza war, Netanyahu wrote about the breakthrough on the hostage issue. "With God's help, we will bring them all home." Israel's opposition leader Jair Lapid also wrote on X: "We are waiting with bated breath for our children." He thanked US President Trump.
2.14 am
Hostage families welcome agreement between Israel and Hamas
The families of the hostages abducted in the Gaza Strip have welcomed the breakthrough in the indirect negotiations between Israel and the Islamist Hamas. "This is an important and significant step on the way to bringing everyone home, but our fight is not over yet and will only end when the last hostage has returned," said a statement from the Forum of Hostage Families. They had received the news of the agreement on the first phase of the US peace plan with a "mixture of excitement, anticipation and concern".
The families of the hostages receive news of the agreement's signing to return all 48 hostages with a mix of excitement, anticipation, and concern.

The Hostages Families Forum welcomes the signing of this agreement, designed to bring all the hostages home—the living for… pic.twitter.com/7MV5X4ApYF
— Bring Them Home Now (@bringhomenow) October 8, 2025
There are still 48 hostages in the Gaza Strip, 20 of whom are still alive according to Israeli information. "It is our moral and national duty to bring them all home - both the living and the dead," said the statement from the hostage families. "Their return is crucial for the healing and recovery of Israeli society as a whole. We will not rest until the last hostage comes home."
1.51am
Hamas confirms agreement with Israel
The Islamist Hamas has confirmed an initial agreement with Israel on a settlement of the war in the Gaza Strip. The agreement provides for an end to the fighting in Gaza, a withdrawal of the Israeli military, access for aid supplies and an exchange of hostages and prisoners, according to a statement from the terrorist organization.
The Gaza war was triggered on October 7, 2023 by the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel, in which extremists murdered around 1200 people and abducted 251 others. In previous ceasefires, hostages had been released in return for the release of numerous Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody. Israel estimates that Hamas still holds almost 50 hostages, only 20 of whom are still alive.
Thursday, October 9, 2025, 1:26 a.m.
Trump: Israel and Hamas agree to first phase of Gaza plan
According to US President Donald Trump, Israel and the Islamist Hamas have reached the first important agreements in the struggle to settle the Gaza war. Specifically, all hostages will soon be released and Israel will withdraw its troops to an agreed line, as the Republican announced on the Truth Social platform: "All parties will be treated fairly." According to Trump's plan, Israel's army is to withdraw to an agreed line in order to prepare for the release of the hostages. According to a report in the Times of Israel, the Israeli government will meet today, Thursday, to approve the agreement.
Trump thanked other mediating countries in the conflict - Qatar, Egypt and Turkey. Indirect negotiations between Israel and the Islamist organization Hamas on a peace plan presented by Trump took place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. This represents a breakthrough two years after the start of the Gaza war. Agreement had been reached on the first phase of the US peace plan, Trump wrote.
ALL hostages to be released very soon! https://t.co/tmNrNaQwxi pic.twitter.com/XGjfj9Wm65
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 8, 2025
Trump's peace plan provides for the release of all Israeli and foreign hostages held by Hamas and other terrorist organizations. In return, Israel is to release around 250 Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment and around 1,700 prisoners held after October 7, 2023.
There are still 48 hostages in the Gaza Strip, 20 of whom are still alive according to Israeli information. The people are being held in cruel conditions. Previously released hostages have reported torture and severe mistreatment. In videos published by terrorist organizations, hostages were also recently seen severely emaciated.
The indirect negotiations began on Monday with the aim of gradually bringing the two-year war in Gaza to an end. US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Israel's minister Ron Dermer and Khalil al-Haja, Hamas' highest representative abroad, were among those who traveled to Sharm el-Sheikh for the talks. Attempts to end the Gaza war have failed several times in the past.
22:23
Trump brings possible trip to the Middle East into play
US President Donald Trump has raised the prospect of a trip to the Middle East in the event of an agreement on the Gaza war. "I may be going there sometime towards the end of the week," Trump said on Wednesday. He mentioned Sunday as a possibility. "Negotiations are progressing very well", he claimed.
There are currently indirect negotiations between representatives of Israel and Hamas in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for an end to the Gaza war.
20.53 hrs
Spanish parliament approves arms embargo against Israel
The Spanish parliament has approved the arms embargo against Israel due to the Gaza war with the votes of the government camp. The left-wing head of government Pedro Sánchez had already put this measure into force by decree a good two weeks ago. However, it had to be confirmed by parliament within 30 days. There were 178 votes in favor, 169 MPs from the conservative and right-wing populist camp voted against and one MP abstained.
Until the very end, it was uncertain whether Sánchez would receive a majority for the measure. The left-wing alternative party Podemos then voted in favor despite criticism of the embargo. This sanction against Israel is "fake", said Podemos leader Ione Belarra, because it does not go far enough.
According to Madrid, the embargo and other measures are intended to help "stop the genocide in Gaza". The embargo prohibits trade in armaments as well as dual-use goods and technologies that could be used by the Israeli military. It also prohibits the transit of fuels bound for Israel via Spanish ports and the country's airspace if they could be used for military purposes.
20.2
Israel's foreign minister calls Paris consultations "hypocrisy"
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has described the consultations of international chief diplomats on the implementation of the US peace plan for Gaza, which begin on Thursday in Paris, as unnecessary and harmful. In a statement on Platform X, Saar wrote: "We see this as another attempt by President Macron to distract attention from his domestic political problems at the expense of Israel." Saar spoke of an initiative behind Israel's back and accused France of hypocrisy and double standards.
The invitation to governments that are openly hostile towards Israel is outrageous, Saar continued. "The participants can of course discuss all the issues they want - but there will be no agreements in Gaza that are reached without Israel's consent," he emphasized. "Today we make it clear: Nothing about Israel without Israel!"
The participants at the meeting in Paris are Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, EU foreign affairs representative Kaja Kallas, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Canada and Turkey. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also expected to attend.
The consultations will focus on the implementation of the US peace plan for Gaza and concrete steps to resolve the conflict as well as support and reconstruction following the end of the war, according to reports from Paris. The meeting is a continuation of the French-Saudi initiative in favor of a two-state solution. This led to the New York Declaration in favor of a two-state solution at the United Nations four weeks ago and facilitated the acceptance of the American plan. The broad format of the Paris meeting reflected this goal, it was said.
France’s new initiative, concocted behind Israel’s back at the sensitive timing of the negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh, is unnecessary and harmful, just like its predecessors.

We view this as yet another attempt by President Macron to divert attention from his domestic problems…
— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) October 8, 2025
7.45 p.m.
Gaza talks in Egypt: negotiations continue
According to Arab media reports and informed circles, the talks to end the Gaza war in Sharm el-Sheikh continued at midday.
The focus of today's discussions is to resolve the contentious issues of the past few days, as the German Press Agency learned from sources close to the talks. In particular, they are discussing the guarantees demanded by Hamas that Israeli hostages will be released and that Israeli hostilities will cease completely.
They also wanted to discuss timetables and implementation mechanisms for the plan presented by US President Donald Trump to end the war.
Egypt, Qatar and the USA are mediating between Hamas and Israel. The indirect talks in Egypt began on Monday. It could be several days before a result is reached.
5.15 a.m.
Middle East talks: Hamas and Israel "insist on positions"
The indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas on an end to their war and related demands are entering their third day today. With the arrival of important negotiators from the conflicting parties and mediating states in the Egyptian coastal town of Sharm el-Sheikh, the talks are gaining more political weight - and perhaps, it is hoped, new momentum. So far, little has emerged about the concrete content of the negotiations, which have been ongoing since Monday, and no tangible progress has been made.
According to reports, in addition to US special envoy Steve Witkoff and his companion Jared Kushner, Israeli government representative Ron Dermer, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin and Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani will now also be personally involved in the talks. The latter are considered weighty figures with comparatively good connections to the Islamist Hamas, while the USA is Israel's most important ally.
The basis of their talks is US President Donald Trump's peace plan, which provides for the release of all remaining Hamas hostages in return for a ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israel's jails. Other core objectives of the 20-point plan: disarming Hamas and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the largely destroyed Gaza Strip as well as large amounts of humanitarian aid for the suffering civilian population of the coastal area, which is to be demilitarized and rebuilt.
On the second day of negotiations, the situation was "unchanged compared to the first day", with both Israel and Hamas "firmly insisting on their positions", the German Press Agency was told by negotiating circles. Accordingly, Hamas is demanding reliable guarantees that Israel will not continue its attacks after the release of the hostages. While the Islamists are demanding a complete end to the war before a possible exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, the Israeli delegation has not yet made any commitments on these issues, it was reported.
Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 0:05 a.m.
Mourning, hope at memorial service for victims of October 7
More than 30,000 people joined survivors of the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, former hostages and relatives of killed soldiers in Tel Aviv to commemorate the victims. The memorial service was organized by a private initiative and broadcast nationwide on several channels and online.
After a minute's silence for those killed in the terrorist attack by Islamist Hamas, the names of the approximately 1,200 people killed on October 7 were shown on a screen. Text messages were also projected that victims had sent to their relatives from shelters and from the Nova music festival - often their last words.
"We don't want revenge, we want healing," said a woman whose mother and 13-year-old daughter were killed in the attack on a kibbutz. "We want to conquer fear and find hope. We want to overcome the hate and find our humanity again. We want to overcome the anger and find compassion again."
"At night we were still children dancing through the night, but in the morning everything was shattered," said Omer Shem Tov, who was released after 505 days in the Gaza Strip. He spoke of true solidarity among the hostages. "The peace we dreamed of is still far away, but the unity, the compassion and the human spark that has been created here - they are the foundation on which we can build again."
Jonathan Schamriz, founder of the organization Kumu, which organized the memorial event and is made up of people affected by the terrorist attack, criticized the mistakes of the security authorities and the military, who had ignored warnings of an imminent attack. "October 7 is not just a day of remembrance for those who died. It is a day to remember negligence, failure of leadership and irresponsibility," he said.
18:19
No progress on second day of Gaza talks
According to participants, no real progress has been made in the Gaza talks in Egypt after the second day of negotiations. The situation is "unchanged compared to the first day" and both Israel and Hamas are "firmly insisting on their positions", the German news agency DPA was told by people close to the talks. According to sources in the negotiating circles, Hamas is demanding guarantees that Israel will not continue its attacks after the release of hostages. Hamas is therefore demanding a complete end to the war before a possible exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli delegation has not yet made any commitments in this regard, it said.
12.01 pm
Hamas agrees to parts of the Trump plan - wants negotiations
The Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas has accepted parts of US President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza. These include the release of all hostages, it announced. However, the terrorist organization also called for further negotiations.
10.52 a.m.
Remaining Swiss from the Gaza aid flotilla released by Israel
The remaining ten captured Swiss nationals of the Gaza aid flotilla have been deported to Jordan by Israel. The Swiss embassy in Amman will receive them at the border, as announced by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.
1.27 a.m.
Reports: Talks on peace plan continue today
The first round of talks on US President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan has ended in a "positive atmosphere", according to Arab media reports. The talks in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, are to continue today, reported the TV station Al-Jazeera, citing the Egyptian government-affiliated station Al-Qahera News TV. Details of the negotiations, which could last several days, were not initially made public.
BREAKING: The first round of Gaza talks between Hamas and mediators have ended in Egypt “amid a positive atmosphere”, reports Al-Qahera News.

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/elaO1PLHwt pic.twitter.com/nZRMboMYDW
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 6, 2025
1.08 a.m.
Guterres appeals to warring parties: "End the suffering of all"
On the second anniversary of the massacre by Islamist terrorists in Israel, UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls on the parties to the conflict to end the war in Gaza. "End the hostilities in Gaza, Israel and the region now", he demanded in New York. The latest proposal by US President Donald Trump offers an opportunity that must be used to end this conflict, he said. "After two years of trauma, we must choose hope. Now."
Two years ago today, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups launched an abhorrent large-scale terror attack on Israel. On this day, let us remember all those who were killed and suffered horrific violence.

The horror of that dark day will be forever seared in the memories of…
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 7, 2025
Since Monday, mediators have been discussing Trump's peace plan with representatives of the Islamist Hamas and Israel in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. On October 7, 2023, terrorists from the radical Islamist Hamas, together with other Islamists, carried out the worst massacre in Israel's history. Around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were deported to the Gaza Strip.
Guterres once again called on the Islamist terrorists to release the hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip "unconditionally and immediately". "End the suffering of all. This is a humanitarian catastrophe of unimaginable proportions." A lasting ceasefire and a credible political process are essential to prevent further bloodshed and pave the way for peace.
Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 0.13 a.m.
Trump continues to expect a Gaza deal soon
US President Donald Trump is confident that his Gaza peace plan can be implemented soon. "We have made tremendous progress", said the Republican in Washington, repeating similar statements from previous days. "Everyone is on our side to get this deal done. There's never been anything like this, no one has ever seen anything like this," he added. There is no country that opposes it, he said. "Everybody wants it to happen - even, I think, Hamas," Trump said.
He had spoken to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is strongly in favour of an agreement and is just as highly regarded by the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Trump explained. There had also been a "very strong signal" from Iran.
Negotiators from Israel and Hamas began indirect talks in Egypt on Monday on the implementation of Trump's Gaza peace plan. The talks will initially focus on the release of the remaining 48 hostages in return for a ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Other issues, including the disarmament of Hamas and an Israeli troop withdrawal from the coastal strip, are still controversial. As in previous rounds, the parties to the conflict are not negotiating directly with each other.
23:02
Thunberg also on board: Israel deports another 171 Gaza aid flotilla activists
Israel has deported 171 more activists from the halted aid flotilla for the Gaza Strip, including German citizens. 161 people from a total of 16 European countries landed in Athens on Monday, according to the Greek Foreign Ministry. Ten more activists were taken to Slovakia. Among those who landed in Athens was the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. She and French left-wing politician Rima Hassan reported violence from the Israeli side.
Thunberg and her fellow activists were greeted at Athens International Airport by pro-Palestinian activists. The "Global Sumud Flotilla" of around 45 ships was the "biggest attempt so far" to break the "illegal and inhumane Israeli blockade" of the Gaza Strip by sea, said the 22-year-old Swede. "It's a shame that this mission has to exist," she added. Governments around the world were "not even doing the least" to prevent the "genocide" against the Palestinians.
Thunberg also said that activists had suffered "mistreatment" in Israeli detention, without giving details. Hassan, a French member of parliament from the far-left party La France Insoumise (LFI), made concrete accusations on arrival in Athens: "I was beaten by two police officers when they put me in the police van," she said. Other activists were also beaten.
The former climate change activist Greta Thunberg has released a 5-minute-long rambling video in which she drops f-bombs and claims that Israel is holding Palestinians imprisoned in “dungeons.”

She also claims that she and her flotilla friends “have history on their side” pic.twitter.com/e6IXBAEnvP
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 6, 2025
4.30 a.m.
Spanish activists of the Gaza flotilla back home
Several Spanish activists from a Gaza flotilla of private sailing and motor boats intercepted by Israel are back in their home country. A plane carrying the 21 men and women landed at Madrid-Barajas airport in the evening, according to reports by the TV station RTVE, the newspaper "El País" and other Spanish media.
Monday, October 6, 2025, 1:09 a.m.
Trump expects first phase of peace talks to be concluded soon
US President Donald Trump expects the negotiations on his peace plan for an end to the Gaza war, which begin today in Egypt, to produce results this week. "I have been told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to PICK UP THE PACE," the Republican wrote on the Truth Social platform. Trump made his post just a few minutes before the expiry of a "final" deadline (6 p.m. Washington time) that he himself had set for the Islamist Hamas to reach an agreement on Friday.
The terrorist organization had announced its agreement to parts of the peace plan on Friday - but still demanded negotiations. It remains unclear whether the deadline set for the US President has thus become obsolete - he did not address this in his statement and did not comment on it to reporters on Sunday evening.
With a view to a ceasefire in the Gaza war, representatives of Israel and the Islamist Hamas are meeting in Egypt today to discuss further details of the peace plan presented by Trump. According to the Foreign Ministry in Cairo, the talks, which are usually conducted via mediators, will initially focus on the release of the remaining hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners.
Trump went on to write that there had been "very positive talks" with Hamas and other countries this weekend to release the hostages, end the war in Gaza - but above all to achieve the long-awaited PEACE in the Middle East. Trump recently issued another threat: Time is of the essence - "OTHERWISE THERE WILL BE MASSIVE BLOOD LOSS - SOMETHING NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!"
16:37
Swiss participants of the Gaza flotilla on arrival at Geneva airport: "inhumane" detention conditions
Nine Swiss participants in the Gaza flotilla are back in Switzerland. On arrival in Geneva, eight of these returnees reported inhumane treatment following their arrest in Israel.
They also said they were "very concerned" about the fate of those activists who are still being held by Israel. "We are shocked by what we have seen and experienced," one of the Swiss said in the arrivals hall at Geneva airport on Sunday. Around 200 people welcomed the eight activists.
The activist, who spoke on behalf of his comrades, reported that the flotilla had been subjected to a "real military attack" by the Israeli navy. He then spoke of "inhumane" detention conditions and that they had been victims of "torture and assault".
The activist said that he did not want to go into further detail as long as other activists were still detained. "We will issue a comprehensive statement upon their return." More than 300 members of the flotilla, including ten Swiss nationals, are still in custody. "We are very concerned about their fate."
14.02
Israel: Reports of poor treatment of Thunberg "brazen lies"
Israel's Foreign Ministry has strongly rejected allegations that the Swede Greta Thunberg and other pro-Palestinian activists were treated harshly in detention as "brazen lies". The far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, on the other hand, said he was "proud that we treat the 'flotilla activists' like terror supporters". In a statement Ben-Gvir said: "Anyone who supports terror is a terrorist and deserves the conditions that terrorists deserve."
The Israeli navy intercepted the last of the 42 boats of the "Global Sumud Flotilla" on Friday. More than 400 crew members from dozens of countries were taken into custody, including Thunberg. Israel has already started to send the activists back to their home country.
UPDATE:

GRETA THUNBERG IS SAFE!!! pic.twitter.com/TmJoHRmxvc
— Global Sumud Flotilla ✨ (@GSMFlotilla) October 3, 2025
TheGuardianhad reported that Thunberg had spoken to Swedish representatives about harsh treatment in Israeli custody. She had been given too little water and too little food. She also said that she had developed skin rashes that were probably caused by bedbugs. She had been sitting "on hard surfaces" for a long time. The newspaper referred to an email from the Swedish Foreign Ministry to people close to Thunberg.
According to the report, other activists stated that Thunberg had been dragged by her hair and beaten. She was also forced to kiss an Israeli flag. Similar accusations were also made with regard to other pro-Palestinian activists.
⚡️BREAKING: Turkish activist and Sumud Flotilla participant Ersin Celik:

“They [Israelis] dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,” pic.twitter.com/gV6SeMZr7U
— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws1) October 4, 2025
According to the TT news agency, the Swedish Foreign Ministry stated that representatives of the authority had met with the detainees. The ministry also said that in its contacts with the Israeli authorities, it had emphasized the importance of meeting medical needs and that "the need for food and clean water must be met immediately", as well as the possibility of meetings with legal representatives.
In its statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said: "The allegations of mistreatment of Greta Thunberg and other detainees of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla are brazen lies." All the rights of the detainees had been "fully respected". "Interestingly, Greta herself and other detainees have refused to expedite their deportation and insisted on prolonging their stay in detention. Greta has also not complained to the Israeli authorities about any of these absurd and baseless accusations - because they never happened."
1.10 p.m.
FDFA representatives visit ten Swiss participants in Gaza flotilla in detention
Ten Swiss nationals who took part in the Gaza flotilla are still in custody in Israel. A team from the Swiss embassy in Israel has visited them a second time and was able to speak with them.
The embassy team visited the ten people in the Ktzi'ot detention center in southern Israel on Sunday morning, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) announced. "Under the circumstances, they are all in relatively good health." One of them is the former mayor of Geneva, Rémy Pagani.
The FDFA wants to ensure consular protection for the detainees. It is maintaining contact with the Israeli authorities and the detainees' lawyers and will continue to do everything in its power to ensure that the Swiss nationals can return to Switzerland as quickly as possible.
A total of 19 Swiss activists on the Gaza flotilla were taken into custody after their boats were boarded in Israel. Nine of them have since been able to leave for Istanbul.
12.05 pm
Islamic countries welcome Trump plan for Gaza
Foreign ministers of several Islamic states see US President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza as a "real opportunity" to achieve a sustainable ceasefire. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar welcomed the reaction of the Palestinian Hamas to Trump's plan.
They also welcomed Trump's call on Israel to stop bombing the Gaza Strip. Such developments represented a real opportunity "to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire and improve the critical humanitarian situation of the people of Gaza," the statement said.
8:45 a.m.
Huthi missile fired at Israel stopped by air defenses
Prior to talks on US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan, a missile fired from Yemen has been intercepted by Israel's air defenses. The Israeli army announced that there had previously been air alerts in various regions of Israel. According to the Civil Defense, these included the area around Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv. There were no reports of casualties or damage to property.
The Huthi claimed responsibility for the attack. A rocket with cluster munitions was fired towards sensitive targets in the Jerusalem area. The militia announced that it would continue its attacks on Israel until the "aggression" in Gaza was stopped and the siege completely lifted.
6.48 am
Trump: Immediate ceasefire if Hamas agrees
According to US President Donald Trump, a ceasefire in the Gaza war is possible immediately if the Islamist Hamas also agrees to a certain line of retreat for the Israeli army in the coastal strip. Israel has already approved this line, the Republican wrote on the Truth Social platform. "As soon as Hamas agrees, the ceasefire comes into force IMMEDIATELY." This will be followed by the exchange of hostages and prisoners and the conditions will be created for the next phase of the withdrawal.
Under his post, Trump also posted a graphic showing a line in the Gaza Strip. In his peace plan for an end to the Gaza war, which he presented almost a week ago, no specific line of retreat was named. Instead, it said: Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed line to prepare for a hostage release. And: During this time, all military operations, including air and artillery fire, will be suspended and the front lines will remain frozen until the conditions for the complete, gradual withdrawal are met.
Sunday, October 5, 4:45 a.m.
Talks on peace plan planned in Egypt from Monday
Ahead of talks planned in Egypt on his Middle East peace plan, US President Donald Trump is calling on Islamist Hamas to quickly agree to his initiative. "I will not tolerate any delay," the Republican wrote on the Truth Social platform - and no outcome in which the Gaza Strip once again poses a threat. Hamas must act quickly. "Let's get this over with - FAST."
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry in Cairo announced that the country would receive representatives of Israel and Hamas this Monday for talks on the exchange of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip with Palestinian prisoners. The talks, which are likely to be held via mediators, are "part of efforts to build on the regional and international momentum" that has emerged following Trump's presentation of the peace plan, it said. The details of an exchange were to be discussed.
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