4h agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 1:13amCatch up on the latest
3m agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 5:50am
Israel, Gaza waking up to news of the peace deal
It’s just past 8.50am Thursday in Tel Aviv and Gaza, with people waking up to the news of the peace deal this morning.
Live feeds have been showing Israelis dancing and cheering in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, which has been the gathering point of hostages’ families and their supporters since the October 7 attacks.
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People are taking selfies with someone in a Trump costume. (Reuters)
A large screen in Hostages Square has been marking the time since the October 7 attacks. (Reuters)
The scenes in Gaza look a little quieter, with people walking around without much fanfare.
People gathered outside the Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. (Associated Press)
A camp along the coast in Wadi Gaza (Associated Press)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his government would convene tomorrow, Friday, to ratify the agreement.
20 living Israeli hostages are to be released in exchange for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
8m agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 5:45am
A major concession, and a major risk
Hamas has made a major concession by agreeing to release the remaining hostages, and has taken a huge risk.
International relations expert Rajan Menon says that Hamas is taking that risk in order to secure an on-going ceasefire.
“This is a gamble because some days ago, President Trump said Hamas indicated that it’s interested in peace and Israel should therefore immediately stop the bombing.
“And Netanyahu did no such thing,” he told the the ABC News Daily podcast.
He says the last ceasefire in Gaza came to an end in January 2025, when Israel refused to continue negotiations about a complete withdrawal of troops from the strip.
“The real question is, will President Trump tell the Israelis that they have to agree that this ceasefire will be permanent and that what happened in the case of the January 2025 agreement cannot be allowed to repeat.”
You can hear the full episode of ABC News Daily below.
23m agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 5:30amHow Hamas reacted to the news of potential peace with Israel
In case you may have missed it, Hamas has released its own statement in reaction to today’s news.
This is what it says:
“We highly appreciate the efforts of our brothers and mediators in Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, and we also value the efforts of US President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war completely and achieving a full withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip.
“We call on President Trump, the guarantor states of the agreement, and all Arab, Islamic, and international parties to compel the occupation government to fully implement its obligations under the agreement and to prevent it from evading or delaying the implementation of what has been agreed upon.
“We affirm that the sacrifices of our people will not be in vain, and that we will remain true to our pledge — never abandoning our people’s national rights until freedom, independence, and self-determination are achieved”.
38m agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 5:15am
How world leaders have been reacting to peace proposal
We’re starting to see some global leaders and other politicians offering their reactions to the news of potential peace between Israel and Hamas.
These are the leaders we’ve heard from so far:
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “I welcome the news that a deal has been reached … 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”.
Argentine President Javier Milei applauded the deal, calling it historic, and said he would nominate Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Winston Peters said Israelis and Palestinians have suffered immensely and that “today is a positive first step in bringing that suffering to an end”.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi also welcomed the agreement as a “major step” toward calming the situation and achieving a two-state settlement.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has also welcomed the news, saying his country is “ready to do its part to consolidate the ceasefire” and prepared “to send troops in case of the creation of an international peacekeeping force to reunify Palestine.”
Reporting with AP
48m agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 5:05amIDF forces instructed to ‘be ready for any scenario’
The latest statement from the Israel Defense Forces appears to suggest the military is still acting with caution ahead of any potential hostage-prisoner swap with Hamas in Gaza.
In a statement posted to X this hour, the IDF says:
“During a situational assessment held overnight, the Chief of the General Staff instructed all forces, both on the front lines and in the rear areas, to prepare strong defenses and be ready for any scenario.
“Force deployments will be carried out in accordance with the directives of the political echelon and the stages of the agreement, with responsibility and a focus on the safety of our soldiers.
“At the same time, the Chief of the General Staff instructed to prepare to lead the operation for the hostages’ return, which is expected to be conducted with sensitivity and professionalism.”
53m agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 5:00am
Palestinians reacted to the peace deal with a mix of hope and scepticism
Alaa Abd Rabbo, displaced from northern Gaza to Deir al-Balah, said the ceasefire deal is “a Godsend day of relief”.
“We are tired . We have been displaced and this is the day we have been waiting for,” Abd Rabbo said.
“We want to go home, to tend to our affairs, to check on our homes. Even though there are no more homes, but we still want to go home. We want to work. We have been sleeping and staying on the streets.”
Meanwhile, paramedic Saeed Awad said he was first sceptical about the possibility of a ceasefire because of previous failed attempts to end the war.
“They all ended in failure. So we didn’t really pay attention to this [round],” he said.
Reporting with AP
1h agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 4:45am📹: Families of Israeli hostages celebrate with champagne and cheers
To give you more of an insight into the scenes in Tel Aviv after Donald Trump’s news broke of the Israel-Hamas peace proposal agreement, here is some more video of how the families of hostages celebrated.
Bottles of champagne were popped into crowds at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, there were cheers of elation, and hugs and tears.
You can watch that moment, here:
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1h agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 4:20am
What do we know about the hostage return?
There are still 48 Israeli hostages in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
Today’s agreement means the 20 living hostages are expected to be released within 72 hours of the deal starting.
Some media outlets have reported that the living hostages could be released on Saturday or Sunday, local time.
1h agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 4:05am📹: Israeli hostages’ family members speak with Donald Trump
We’ve just received a video that shows the moment United States President Donald Trump spoke with families of Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza by Hamas.
In a phone discussion, the president told those family members — who were standing with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick — that the hostages were “all coming back on Monday”.
One of the family members, Moshe Lavi , told Trump: “Mr president, we believe in you.
“We know you’ve done so much for us over the past, since you became a president, even before that, and we trust you’ll fulfill the mission until every hostage — every 48 of the hostages — are home,” he said.
“Thank you so much. God bless America. Blessed be the peacemakers. God bless you, Mr president. God bless America.”
You can watch the complete moment, here:
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1h agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 3:55am
Gaza’s north still a dangerous combat zone: IDF spokesman
The Israel Defense Forces’ Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, says the north of Gaza still remains an active and dangerous combat zone.
He has warned people to refrain from returning north, where the IDF is stationed, until further instructions.
2h agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 3:45am
In pictures: Palestinians celebrate news of a peace deal
Palestinians have taken to the streets of Gaza to celebrate the news of the peace deal.
(Reuters)
(Reuters)
(Reuters)
2h agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 3:37am
Albanese applauds diplomatic efforts
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has provided an update on the situation in the Middle East during Question Time.
He says Australia welcomes Israel and Hamas agreeing to the first phase of the peace deal put forward by US President Donald Trump.
Albanese says he hopes that after decades of conflict, this deal will end the cycle of violence between Israel and Palestinians.
“We applaud the diplomatic efforts that have been undertaken by the United States, the Arab League and others in the work done to engage with Israel and the Palestinian Authority,” Albanese says.
“The only path to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East remains a two-state solution. The State of Israel and Palestine living side-by-side within internationally recognised borders in peace and security,” he says.
Our friends on the politics blog are bringing you all the updates from Question Time right now.
2h agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 3:35amNetanyahu invites Trump to address Israeli Knesset after peace proposal announcement
Earlier my ABC colleague Lewis Wiseman reported that Donald Trump had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The US president confirmed the conversation had happened during an interview on Fox News, hours after announcing the Israel-Gaza peace proposal.
We’re now seeing that the office of Mr Netanyahu has also confirmed that discussion took place, in a statement posted on X.
“The two had a very emotional and warm conversation, congratulating each other on the historic achievement of signing the agreement for the release of all the hostages,” the statement says.
“The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for all his efforts and for his global leadership, and President Trump congratulated the Prime Minister for his determined leadership and the actions he led.
“The two agreed to continue their close cooperation.
“In addition, the Prime Minister invited President Trump to address the Knesset.”
2h agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 3:30am
What is the Gaza peace plan?
Early last week, Mr Trump stood alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House and presented a 20-point plan to deliver peace in Gaza.
The US president essentially gave Hamas an ultimatum: agree to this plan or Israel will “finish the job”.
But the status of other points in the plan — such as requiring Hamas to disarm and hand the rule of Gaza over to a temporary foreign-led transitional body, and requiring Israel to eventually fully withdraw its military from the strip — is still unclear.
Read more about it here:
2h agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 3:25am
Israel-Gaza peace proposal ‘a ray of hope after 700 days of death’: UNGA president
President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Annalena Baerbock has praised the peace proposal announced by Donald Trump as “a ray of hope”.
Annalena Baerbock speaking at the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations in New York City. (Reuters: Eduardo Munoz)
In a statement posted to X, Ms Baerbock says: “After more than 700 days of death, destruction and despair we have to seize this moment … to fully implement its conditions and end the war in Gaza.
“All Israeli hostages must be released and the immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid must be ensured,” she said.
“A permanent ceasefire can finally open a pathway to peace; ending the rule of Hamas in Gaza, ending the occupation and recognizing the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people as well as the security of the State of Israel by the whole region.
“Israelis and Palestinians can only live in lasting peace, security and dignity when they live in two states, recognizing and ensuring peace, security and dignity of each other.”
Last month’s UNGA meetings held in New York City included a significant focus on the situation in Israel and Gaza, including the notion of Palestinian statehood.
You can take a look back at more of what happened during those meetings with the link below to a piece written by my ABC colleague Laura Tingle.
2h agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 3:15am
Explosions heard over Gaza city, Palestinian activist says
Palestinian activist Yousef Mema posted a story on Instagram of sirens going off in Gaza City an hour ago.
At 2am (local time) he posted that armed drones were still hovering.
At 3.40am he said “a heavy bombing just happened” in Khan Younis city.
And said about an hour ago: “The sounds of explosions can still be heard in Gaza, and the sounds of aircraft flying overhead have not stopped either.”
2h agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 3:13am’A moment of profound relief’: Keir Starmer reacts to peace proposal
We’re seeing reports that the British prime minister has responded to today’s announcement of a first-stage proposal for peace between Israel and Hamas.
The BBC says that United Kingdom Prime Minister has welcomed the news.
“I welcome the news that a deal has been reached on the first stage of President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza,” Mr Starmer said in a statement, according to the BBC report.
“This is a moment of profound relief that will be felt all around the world, but particularly for the hostages, their families, and for the civilian population of Gaza, who have all endured unimaginable suffering over the last two years.
“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.
“We call on all parties to meet the commitments they have made, to end the war, and to build the foundations for a just and lasting end to the conflict and a sustainable path to a long-term peace.
“The UK will support these crucial immediate steps and the next stage of talks to ensure the full implementation of the peace plan.”
2h agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 3:05am
Reaction to peace proposal outside NSW court following Sydney Opera House protest ruling
New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Michele Goldman says the latest development in the Israel-Gaza peace talks was “historic”.
Ms Goldman spoke outside the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday, following a court order which prohibited a planned pro-Palestinian march to the Sydney Opera House this weekend.
New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Michele Goldman. (ABC News: Abubakr Sajid)
When asked about pro-Palestinian advocates’ plans to go ahead with protests during talks of a ceasefire, Ms Goldman questioned the motive of protesters in the wake of the newly announced deal.
“I would’ve been asking that question a few days ago, we had a peace deal on the table,” she said.
“The US, Israel and, indeed, all the Arab nations had agreed to it. There was conspicuously one party absent and that was Hamas.
“Would they [protesters] not be celebrating the end of the war and the ability for the hostages to be returned and for Palestinians in Gaza to have an opportunity to start to rebuild their lives?”
Damien Ridgwell from the Palestine Action Group said he was “sceptical” of the peace talks but insisted there was still a “need to protest”.
Damien Ridgwell from the Palestine Action Group. (ABC News: Abubakr Sajid)
“Yes, because this goes beyond just the genocide over the last two years,” he said.
“Even if there is a ceasefire, and I hope that there is a ceasefire but I am also very sceptical … we will still need to fight to try and end this complicity with an apartheid regime.”
2h agoThu 9 Oct 2025 at 3:00am
📹: Palestinians celebrating in the streets
Joy fills the streets of Khan Younis after first phase of Gaza ceasefire deal reached.
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