Israeli military continues attacks in Gaza despite ceasefire announcement

The Israeli military is continuing its attacks on Gaza despite news that a ceasefire agreement has been reached. Israeli fighter jets have bombed western areas of Gaza City, striking at least one house in the Shati camp, according to our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic.

Israeli forces have also detonated an armoured vehicle laden with explosives near homes in the Sabra neighbourhood, south of Gaza City.

Palestinians sleep as Israeli drones, warplanes, artillery fall silent in Gaza

This is unusually different compared to the past nights and the past days. We were driving in areas and by displacement sites with many tents, and literally, we’ve not seen people on the streets. Everyone is sleeping inside tents.

In the past weeks, people haven’t had this opportunity. They were always hyper vigilant because of the ongoing threats and constant danger that they had to be aware of from the drone strikes, from the fighter jets, from the constant and continuous bombardment across the Strip.

But tonight, unusually, as we drove to this broadcasting point by a displacement site, to our surprise, everyone seems to be sleeping.

I think they are taking advantage that tonight is a quiet night. There are no drones in the background to keep them up. There are no fighter jets. No heavy artillery. And when I look at this, I think they deserve to be sleeping well.

But does this change everything?

For now, at least, the first phase of the agreement is coming, and hopefully it will hold up.

That’s the hope.

Israeli military warns Palestinians against returning to northern Gaza

The Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee has said the area north of Wadi Gaza – the valley separating central and northern parts of Gaza – is “still considered a dangerous combat zone”.

Adraee said that Israeli forces “continue to surround Gaza City, where returning to it is extremely dangerous”.

“For your safety, refrain from returning north or approaching areas where [Israeli forces] are stationed and operating throughout the sector, including in the south and east of the sector, until official instructions are issued,” he said.

_{Palestinian man Jehad al-Shagnobi, who was injured in an Israeli strike on his house, walks with an external fixator on his arm as he inspects the damage to his home in the Sabra neighbourhood in Gaza City, on October 8}

Journalists walk Gaza streets amid blackout informing residents of ceasefire

A video clip published by Palestinian photographer Anas Ayyad shows journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi and other men wearing press vests, walking the darkened streets of northern Gaza amid a blackout, calling out to residents to inform them that a ceasefire has been agreed.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPkUMv-CES0

Good old town crier.

Netanyahu claims ceasefire success but Israeli public sees PM as ‘in the way of many deals’

Netanyahu has released a flurry of statements in the last couple of hours, saying that it’s because of Israel’s military pressure. It’s because of Israel’s continuous military activity. It’s because of the objectives that Netanyahu had outlined at the beginning of the war; that’s why they reached this point.

But the reality on the ground shows a much different story.

Most of the captives who were released from the Gaza Strip were done through diplomatic means, through these ceasefire deals or through direct negotiations with the Americans. It wasn’t really due to these advanced military operations that the army and the government alike were touting.

Netanyahu is not just under pressure internationally but domestically from the family members of those captives who have been held for two years and a day, and who have been advocating for their release every week – protesting, taking to the streets, saying they have no faith in their own leadership.

If you look on social media and if you see the statements from their family members, if you see anything relating to the captives and their families from the last week or so, it’s all been thanks to President Trump. It’s all thanks to the US envoy, Steve Witkoff.

There has been no praise or thanks to the prime minister because this is a population that believes Netanyahu got in the way of many deals, like back in July of 2024, when mediators said they were at the finish line. But at the 11th hour, Netanyahu decided to insert new conditions and essentially reneged on the entire ceasefire agreement.

Trump says Gaza ‘will be rebuilt’ after first phase of truce deal

Speaking to Sean Hannity on Fox News, Trump said that after phase one of the peace deal is complete, “you’ll see people getting along and Gaza will be rebuilt”.

The US leader added that it’s going to be a “different world” and that there will be “wealth spent in Gaza”.

“Gaza, we believe, is going to be a much safer place, and it’s going to be a place that reconstructs, and other countries in the area will help it reconstruct because they have tremendous amounts of wealth, and they want to see that happen,” Trump said.

“I’m very confident there’ll be peace in the Middle East,” he added.

Netanyahu to present ceasefire deal to gov’t that ‘will have to pass no matter what’

In a few hours time, the Israeli government is going to convene and they are going to vote on this ceasefire agreement.

After they vote, the Israeli military will then withdraw to one of those lines that were presented in the map that President Trump posted on his social media.

Then, 72 hours after that, the captives are going to be released by Hamas. We are hearing from the Americans that it could take place on Monday.

President Trump has been talking about Israel’s international isolation, about how they’ve become a pariah state. But they are not just isolated on a political level; it is also economic. It is also through cultural forums. It’s also a lot of different spaces in the world.

So Netanyahu might not have a choice when he presents this to his government, meaning that it will have to pass, no matter what is at stake within the Israeli government.

Even if it’s at risk of collapsing because of the right-wing coalition – the right-wing lawmakers and partners that Netanyahu has, and who could potentially jump ship if they are not happy with the terms of this deal.

Hope ceasefire will hold but people in Gaza waiting for official statement war has stopped

Apart from a couple of attacks in Khan Younis and a fighter jet that just flew at a very low level above the central area of Gaza, but that’s about it, at least in the central area of Gaza. I feel more hopeful that this is going to hold this time.

There is a strong reason and support for this to go forward despite the fact that the Israeli military, every time, its pattern of behaviour, is the last-minute ditch that follows in order to ruin any possible agreement.

But it does seem to be holding this time. We are talking about an announcement; from all the sources we have heard from, it’s an announcement that an agreement has been reached, and we are waiting until it takes effect.

Until that moment, there is something missing here because we want to hear that one statement, like everybody else, that the war has in fact stopped, and we are going, effectively, into phase one of the ceasefire – releasing captives, Palestinian prisoners.

That could pave the way for a more solid feeling that this genocide is coming to an end.

These two years have been very difficult, day in and day out. Very traumatising.


Israel’s US envoy says Hamas to release captives within 72 hours after cabinet meeting

Israel’s ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, said that once Israel’s security cabinet convenes later today – in a meeting in which they will approve a list of Palestinian prisoners for release – there will be a 72-hour countdown for Hamas to release the remaining living Israeli captives from Gaza.

If confirmed, that means the remaining living Israeli captives held in Gaza could be freed on Sunday or Monday.

When speaking with US news network CNN, Leiter also cautioned that while Israel hopes the ceasefire will permanently end the war, that will depend on how well its terms are implemented by Hamas.

“We hope it leads to a complete cessation of hostilities and a rebuilding of Gaza for the sake of the Gazans and for the sake of Israel,” he said.

“But it’s the first stage, and we’ve got to see the first stage implemented completely in the next few days,” Leiter added.

International community should be behind Gaza deal, removing reliance on US, Israel

Noura Erakat, a Palestinian American human rights lawyer and professor at Rutgers University, said “we should be extremely cautious” as the deal relies on the US and Israel for success and not the international community.

“We have enough evidence to demonstrate that there has been no fidelity to any agreements. We saw that the last time that Hamas relied on the United States after the release of Edan Alexander, that no agreement was fulfilled. We also know that Israel has not been held to account to any ceasefire agreement,” Erakat said, noting that Israel unilaterally broke the last ceasefire with Hamas in March 2025.

“So we are in a position right now where everyone is welcoming this because we want children, and all Palestinians, to eat and sleep, to rest for a night without being bombarded in makeshift tents, continuing to burn alive, and not having access to basic medical needs. That is the priority first and foremost,” Erakat said.

“What is really disturbing about this moment, that is welcome because of that cessation of bombardment, is that this should have been a multilateral agreement,” she said.

“This should have been something that the international community ushered through and imposed on both the United States and Israel. That they should have made possible through a united show through international cooperation so that it wasn’t left to the United States and Israel to decide whether or not it was going to succeed,” Erakat said.

That lack of input was a “failure of the international system, which means that not only do Palestinians remain at risk but so do other populations all over the world” who are in similar circumstances, she added.

Yes this is what the UNSC was for, Trump has effectively sidelined international law, likely hoping people will forget about the genocide and annexation of the West Bank / East Jerusalem.

Gaza Civil Defence reports Israeli strikes after ceasefire deal announced

Mohammed al-Mughayyir, an official with the Gaza Civil Defence, said several Israeli strikes were reported after the announcement that a deal had been reached to end fighting in the enclave, including “a series of intense air strikes” on Gaza City.

“Since the announcement last night of an agreement on a proposed ceasefire framework in Gaza, several explosions have been reported, particularly in areas of northern Gaza,” al-Mughayyir said, according to the AFP news agency.

Israeli army begins ‘operational preparations’ to implement Gaza deal

The Israeli military says that “following the political echelon’s instructions and due to the situational assessment, [the army] has begun operational preparations ahead of the implementation of the agreement”.

“As part of this process, preparations and a combat protocol are underway to transition to adjusted deployment lines soon,” the military statement said on Telegram.

The troops continue to be deployed in the area “prepared for any operational development”, it warned.

Hard to ‘square that circle’ of Israeli withdrawal from Gaza under deal and previous stated stance

HA Hellyer, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told Al Jazeera earlier that the “crucial point now is how much pressure” will continue, especially on Israel, to ensure the ceasefire holds.

The different phases of Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza under the proposed deal are “crucial”, Hellyer said, noting that withdrawing goes against Israel’s long-stated plans for the Palestinian enclave.

“The Israelis have made it very clear that they do not have any intention of withdrawing from the Gaza Strip,” Hellyer said.

“That they intend to ‘maintain overall security control from the river to the sea’,” he said, adding that Israel also rejects the idea of a Palestinian state and the idea of the Palestinian Authority returning to govern Gaza.

“And, of course, they reject Hamas having any role whatsoever. So it’s hard to square that circle,” he added.

UK PM Keir Starmer welcomes Gaza ceasefire deal

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has welcomed the agreement and called for aid to be allowed enter Gaza after months of Israel’s blockade and siege of the Palestinian territory.

“I welcome the news that a deal has been reached on the first stage of President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza,” Starmer said in a statement.

“This agreement must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza,” he said.

Amnesty: Truce a path to ending Israel’s ‘unlawful occupation, apartheid and genocide’

Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnes Callamard said the truce deal is “cruelly overdue” after two years of suffering, and it will “not erase all [the Palestinians] have endured”.

Callamard also called on Israel to immediately end its suffocating blockade on Gaza and allow the “unhindered flow” of aid into the besieged enclave.

The Amnesty chief said that for “any lasting ceasefire agreement to succeed”, it must include an “immediate stop to Israel’s genocide”, as well as “concrete steps” to end its occupation of the Palestinian territories and “dismantle the system of apartheid” there.

“The current plan – the so-called ‘Trump peace plan’ – falls woefully short in this. It fails to demand justice and reparations for victims of atrocity crimes or accountability for perpetrators,” Callamard added.

For more than 2 million Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip who have faced two years of agonizing suffering, relentless bombardment and systematic starvation amidst Israel’s ongoing genocide, for those held hostage by Palestinian armed groups, and for those arbitrarily…

— Agnes Callamard (@AgnesCallamard) October 9, 2025

Gaza deal to see nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners released

There are some details about this deal that are emerging. We understand that there will be a release of Israeli captives. We believe the remaining, around 20, then a phased release of the remains of the deceased Israeli captives. And then, Israel will release Palestinian captives, around 1,950, including 250 who are serving life sentences.

Now, other parts of this deal are still unclear about Hamas disarmament, about how that’s going to happen and when that’s going to happen.

We understand that Israel will withdraw to an agreed line within Gaza and then that is a part of a larger withdrawal.

There is cautious optimism here in Qatar and the rest of the Middle East. What guarantees are there that Israel won’t return to war, return to the genocide in Gaza once hostages are released. What’s stopping Israel?

And that guarantee essentially is the United States and the US President Donald Trump.


_{Palestinians celebrate in Khan Younis following news of a new Gaza ceasefire deal}

2,000 sounds like a lot, yet there are over 3,500 Palestinian prisoners in administrative detention, without charge or trial. 11,000 total, most 'convicted' by a military court with over 99% conviction rate. And then those disappeared from Gaza.

And what guarantees are there they don't get put back in Israeli torture camps after release, as what happened to many of the previously released prisoners.

At least 9 Palestinians arrested by Israeli forces in occupied West Bank

The Israeli military has carried out raids and arrests in locations across the occupied West Bank over recent hours, according to the Wafa news agency. The report said:

Gaza death toll rises

At least 10 Palestinians, including two aid seekers, have been killed and 49 injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry. One body has also been retrieved from the rubble of previous Israeli attacks in the same timeframe, the ministry added.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed a total of 67,194 Palestinians and injured 169,890 since October 7, 2023, the statement published on Telegram said.

I want to hope that will be the last, but it won't.

Grim daily toll of Israel’s war on Gaza highlighted by enclave’s media office

Gaza’s Government Media Office has issued a statement on the average daily toll of the two-year genocidal war on the enclave. Since October 7, 2023, Israel:

Gaza ceasefire to take effect later this evening after contradictory reports

The Israeli media, Army Radio and channels across the Israeli media landscape had announced that at midday local time, the ceasefire took effect, just like the Egyptian media did.

Then, there was a clarification disseminated by the office of the Israeli prime minister, saying that this ceasefire would only take effect once the government convenes and approves the deal. So, later on, in the evening of this very emotional, very charged day.

So, no ceasefire, according to the Israeli prime minister’s office, yet. But that is not stopping the celebrations.

Gaza’s ambulance authorities issue safety guidelines for displaced Palestinians

Israeli attacks continue despite ceasefire progress

Israel has attacked a number of locations in the past few hours, and we got reports from the Israeli military confirming that its forces would not carry out offensive operations but will only withdraw once the ceasefire takes effect.

For Palestinians, the cessation of the fighting and Israeli air raids will give a real chance and window for relief, but for now, people are still waiting to see the ceasefire take effect and to witness a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Israeli forces have been conducting preparations in order to withdraw once the Israeli government approves the ceasefire from their side.

For now, we can see that Israeli forces are still stationed in the urban centres. They have not yet been able to withdraw, given the progress of the ceasefire deal.

Palestinian president welcomes Gaza deal, hopes it will lead to two-state solution

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has welcomed the Gaza deal, saying he hoped it would be a prelude to reaching a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to the Wafa news agency.

He commended the efforts made by Trump and all mediators – Qatar, Egypt and Turkiye, and expressed the Palestinian Authority’s readiness to work with them to ensure the success of their work, the agency reported.

Abbas reiterated that sovereignty over Gaza belongs to the Palestinian state and the connection between the occupied West Bank and the enclave must be achieved through the implementation of Palestinian laws and the work of Palestinian government institutions, the report said.


Italy’s top diplomat welcomes Gaza deal, says Rome ready to send peacekeepers

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has welcomed the first stage of the ceasefire deal and said, “peace is near”.

In a post on X, Tajani said Italy has always supported Trump’s plan and was ready to help consolidate the deal, deliver aid to the enclave and “to participate in the reconstruction of Gaza”.

“[Italy is] also ready to send troops in case of the creation of an international peacekeeping force to reunify Palestine,” Tajani added.

EU foreign policy chief calls Gaza deal ‘major diplomatic accomplishment’

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security, has hailed the preliminary Gaza ceasefire agreement, calling it a “significant breakthrough”.

“This is a major diplomatic accomplishment and a real chance to end a devastating war and release all the hostages,” the Estonian diplomat said. “The EU will do what it can to support its implementation,” she added.

The agreement on the first phase of the Gaza peace deal marks a significant breakthrough.

This is a major diplomatic accomplishment and a real chance to end a devastating war and release all the hostages.

The EU will do what it can to support its implementation.

— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) October 9, 2025

Europe welcomes Gaza ceasefire announcement

Agreement on a first phase of a peace deal between Israel and Hamas is a very significant step. Let this be a historical turning point for peace and stability in the Middle East, and put an end to two years of unimaginable suffering. (1/3)

— David van Weel (@ministerBZ) October 9, 2025

Top British diplomat calls for swift implementation of Gaza deal

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper calls the ceasefire deal a “moment of profound significance, relief and hope” after two years of war.

In a post on X, Cooper thanked the US, Qatar, Egypt and Turkiye for their work in securing the deal.

“We must see this agreement swiftly implemented, the hostages released, a surge in aid for Gaza, and set a path to a just and lasting peace. The UK stands ready to play our full part. Today, I will join talks with partners in Paris on how we can support this deal,” Cooper wrote.

Norwegian Refugee Council calls for full, unrestricted access for delivering aid to Gaza

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), a global charity, has hailed the ceasefire announcement as a “glimmer of hope”.

“Today’s announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas offers a glimmer of hope after two years of unrelenting death, destruction and displacement in Gaza. Both parties must act in good faith and do everything possible to ensure that the truce holds,” said the organisation’s chief, Jan Egeland, in a statement.

Egeland said the prisoner exchange must be completed, aid must be delivered and displaced Palestinians must be able to safely return to their homes.

“Stopping the bombing alone will not end survivors’ suffering. Displacement is widespread. Famine is still spreading. Essential infrastructure has been destroyed. Humanitarian organisations must have full, unrestricted access to bring in food, medicine, shelter materials, and other essential supplies that Gaza has been deprived of for two years,” he said.

The Norwegian Refugee Council has “hundreds” of truckloads of aid ready to enter Gaza, the NGO director added.

“We must not repeat the mistakes of previous ceasefires. This truce cannot be another fragile pause before renewed bloodshed, and Israel must not use it as an opportunity to escalate its military operations and enable settler violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.”

‘No time to waste’: WFP chief says teams in Gaza ready to scale up operations

Cindy McCain, executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP), has joined UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

“Unrestricted humanitarian access is urgently needed to deliver life-saving food & assistance,” McCain wrote in a post on X. “WFP is on the ground and ready to scale up operations, but we need to move NOW – there is no time to waste,” she added.

I join the @UN Secretary-General’s call for an immediate ceasefire in #Gaza.

Unrestricted humanitarian access is urgently needed to deliver life-saving food & assistance.@WFP is on the ground and ready to scale up operations, but we need to move NOW—there is no time to waste. https://t.co/iQ1EEm7usf

— Cindy McCain (@WFPChief) October 9, 2025

UNRWA welcomes Gaza deal as ‘huge relief’

Philippe Lazzarini, the chief of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), calls the ceasefire deal a “huge relief” and reiterated that the agency had food, medicines and basic supplies ready to be distributed.

“After their excruciating ordeal, hostages & Palestinian detainees will finally join their families,” Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X.

“We have enough to provide food for the entire population for the coming three months. Our teams in Gaza are crucial for the implementation of this agreement, including to provide basic services like healthcare + education,” he said.

“There are over 660,000 children who are eagerly waiting to go back to school. UNRWA teachers stand ready to help them fulfil that. I call on all member states to support UNRWA to do its work to assist people in need in the coming critical period,” Lazzarini added.

The agreement to finally secure a ceasefire in #Gaza & release the hostages is a huge relief.

It will bring respite to people who survived the worst bombardment, displacement, loss and grief for two long years.
After their excruciating ordeal, hostages & Palestinian detainees…

— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) October 9, 2025

‘Life-saving’ supplies: UNICEF calls for immediate influx in aid deliveries

UNICEF communications specialist for Palestine, Rosalia Bollen, says the news of the ceasefire brings much-needed “hope and relief” but the influx of humanitarian supplies into the enclave is “integral”.

“The needs in the Gaza Strip after two years of relentless war, extreme deprivation – the needs are massive. So, every bit of aid, every bit of commercial supplies to enter will likely be life-saving,” Bollen told Al Jazeera.

“At UNICEF, we’ve been tracking acute malnutrition and we’ve seen an extreme spike in cases among children under five. These children, they need access to medical supplies, nutrition supplies, food for families and they cannot afford to wait,” Bollen said.

She added that the entry of aid supplies will be “vital” in saving lives in the enclave.

“As for UNICEF, our agency alone would be able to fill over 1,300 trucks with life-saving supplies as soon as we’re allowed to do so,” Bollen said.

Questions remain over motivations to implement Gaza ceasefire deal

Wadie Said, a professor at the University of Colorado in the US, says with Israel previously breaking a ceasefire deal and Trump pushing to win a Nobel Peace Prize, the motivations behind securing the deal are not due to the “mass slaughter of Palestinians”.

“Trump has mentioned time and again in the last week or so that he is concerned about Israel’s standing in the world,” Said told Al Jazeera.

“So if these are the motivations, I think we have to ask how strong of a basis is this for this agreement to actually be implemented in the future,” he added.

But Said expressed caution and said that all of the conditions that existed before October 7, 2023, including Israel’s control over Gaza’s border crossing, will “remain in effect”.

“Although, I do have to say on a personal level, I think I’m not alone in this view that many of us are happy that at least the slaughter and the violence will end,” Said said.

Focus must now be on Israeli compliance with ceasefire deal: Analyst

Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man, director of Israel-Palestine at US-based rights group Dawn, said the ceasefire should be welcomed, but such an agreement could have been reached at any time over the past two years.

“Without being cynical at all, we have to welcome this moment. An end to the killing and starvation and the mental and physical torture of the people in Gaza. But, this could have been done at any point over the past 23 and a half months,” Omer-Man said.

“Hamas has been offering all the hostages in exchange for an end to the war almost since the beginning. And President Biden had the exact same leverage that President Trump has today,” he said.

Omer-Man said concern has to be now on whether Israel will comply with the terms of the ceasefire.

“Israel has deliberately, openly and brazenly broken every ceasefire that was achieved up until this point,” he said.

“Ensuring that they comply by the terms, that they don’t go back to the fighting and reimpose the siege – that they actually allow not only aid but commercial goods and people to flow across the border – is going to be something that I think we are not quite there yet,” he said.

Political cost of continuing US support for Israel ‘quite high’

It is “absolutely critical” the US ensures the ceasefire plan goes all the way through from point one to 20, says Stephen Zunes, chair of the Middle Eastern studies programme at the University of San Francisco.

“It was the failure of the United States to object when Netanyahu broke off the January ceasefire agreement two months later and resumed the assault without going to the second and third phases of that agreement,” Zunes told Al Jazeera, speaking from Philadelphia.

“So, this has been a long time coming, and I think we have to credit everyone from Qatar, UAE, the Saudis, other Gulf states who are making clear that, hey, we’ve pressed Hamas to compromise, you need to press Israel to compromise as well,” he said.

Meanwhile, the political cost for the US for continuing to support Israel is “quite high”, Zunes said.

“This really hurts America’s standing because […] their power is not just in terms of how many planes or tanks or guns they have, it’s their reputation. It’s a soft power …  and by giving Israel a blank cheque all these months, it’s just really hurt the standing of the United States,” he said.

“Clearly, Washington has to hand over at least some degree of authority to reputable Palestinian sources soon, otherwise, it’s going to appear like yet another imperialist adventure,” Zunes added.