Israeli army has completed the first phase of its withdrawal, Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will reopen Tuesday | LIVE

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Gaza's Civil Defense reported Friday that nearly 200,000 people had returned to the northern Palestinian territory since the cease-fire.

"Approximately 200,000 people returned to the north today," Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for the Civil Defense, an organization providing first aid and operating under the authority of the Islamist movement Hamas, told AFP.

AFP footage earlier in the day showed a continuous stream of people heading toward the northern part of the territory, where the Israeli army warned that several areas remained "extremely dangerous" for the civilian population.

AFP photographer injured in Israeli settler attack

An Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer was injured in an attack by Israeli settlers in the northern West Bank while covering olive harvesting in a Palestinian community, AFP reports.

"In my 30-year career, this is the first time I've encountered violence of this kind," said Jaafar Ashtiyeh, a Palestinian photographer based in Nablus, in the northern West Bank, a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967. "If I hadn't managed to escape, they would have killed me," he added.

According to his testimony, Ashtiyeh was covering the olive harvest in Beita, a Palestinian village south of Nablus, and more specifically, a solidarity action by Israeli and foreign peace activists who came to support the residents in the face of repeated attacks by Israeli settlers in the surrounding area on olive groves during the harvest period.

⚡Trump plans Gaza summit: Axios

U.S. President Donald Trump plans to bring together world leaders for a summit on Gaza during his visit to Egypt next week, Axios reports, citing four sources familiar with the matter.

This summit could garner additional international support for President Trump's Gaza peace plan, as difficult agreements remain to be finalized on governance, security and post-war reconstruction.

The leaders or foreign ministers of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Indonesia are expected to attend, the sources told Axios.

Gaza medics claim to have recovered 81 bodies from rubble; Civil Defense estimates another 350 remain buried: Haaretz

Medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported that since Friday morning, 81 bodies have been recovered from the rubble in several areas of the Gaza Strip.

A spokesperson for the Civil Defense Forces told the Qatari Al-Arabi channel that displaced people are being urged not to return to areas from which the Israeli army has withdrawn, for fear that weapons may still be found there.

The spokesperson estimated the number of bodies trapped in the rubble of Gaza City and on the roads at more than 350.

The U.N. Security Council "must give its full support" to the Gaza plan, Berlin, London and Paris said in a statement reported by AFP.

Berlin, London and Paris "determined to relaunch" nuclear negotiations with Iran, according to the statement.

U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to Israel on Monday is expected to be very short, lasting only a few hours, according to Haaretz.

After arriving at Ben-Gurion Airport in the morning, he is expected to hold several meetings, including with families of those held hostage. He is then expected to address the Israeli parliament before returning to the United States.

Oil prices fall with announcement of a Gaza cease-fire

The entry into force of the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas sent the price of U.S. oil to its lowest level in six months on Friday, falling below $60, in a market weighed down by an oversupply, reports AFP.

Around 2:40 p.m., the price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), for November delivery, fell 2.15 percent to $60.19, after falling to $59.57, its lowest since April.

⚡An Israeli attack on journalists, including those from AFP and Reuters, in Lebanon in 2023, described as a "war crime" by a U.N. rapporteur, reported by AFP.

Shaibani reports 'significant progress' on Syrian detainees issue

After meeting with Nawaf Salam at the Grand Serail, Assaad al-Shaibani emphasized the urgent need to resolve the case of Syrian detainees held in Roumieh prison, noting “significant progress” has been made.

“Tangible results will be seen in the coming days,” he said, according to local media.

“We discussed securing the Lebanon-Syria border to enhance stability and security,” the Syrian foreign minister added. He also mentioned talks on the Syrian refugee situation, without elaborating.

“We stressed the importance of boosting security and intelligence cooperation and the need to form technical and economic committees to promote investment and economic growth in both public and private sectors,” Shaibani said.

Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt to reopen Tuesday, says Rome

The Rafah crossing is expected to reopen on Oct 14, with the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) redeployed there following the ceasefire, according to Rome.

EUBAM, involving police forces from Italy, Spain, and France, aims to provide a neutral third-party presence at this strategic border point. The mission was redeployed in January but suspended in March.

Gaza: US military confirms Israel has completed first phase of withdrawal

The U.S. military has confirmed that Israeli forces have completed the first phase of their withdrawal from Gaza, in line with the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

“CENTCOM confirms that Israeli armed forces have completed their pullback to the 'yellow line' as of 12:00 p.m. local time,” U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said on X. “The 72-hour period for the release of hostages has now begun.”

Israel Publishes List of 250 Palestinian Prisoners Eligible for Release

Israel has released a list of 250 "security detainees" eligible for release in exchange for hostages held in Gaza, as part of the ceasefire deal.

The list, published on the Israeli Justice Ministry’s website, does not include any of the high-profile Palestinian prisoners symbolizing armed resistance against Israel — such as Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Saadat, Hassan Salameh, or Abbas al-Sayed, all serving life sentences for deadly attacks.

Netanyahu hopes for a 'national day of joy” with hostage release by Monday night

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hopes the country can celebrate a “national day of joy” on Monday night with the return of the remaining hostages held in Gaza.

“Two years ago [Oct. 7, 2023], the Simchat Torah holiday became a day of national mourning. This year, God willing, it will become a national day of joy, celebrating the return of our brothers and sisters,” he said in a televised address.

Netanyahu also stated that of the 48 hostages (47 kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023, and one soldier killed in 2014 whose body remains in Hamas custody), 20 are alive and 28 are deceased — confirming for the first time the deaths of a Nepalese student and an Israeli soldier, previously unacknowledged by Israeli authorities.

At least 17 Palestinians have been killed and 71 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza in the past 24 hours, Al Jazeera reported citing the enclave’s Health Ministry.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed a total of 67,211 people and injured 169,961 since Oct. 7, 2023, the ministry said.

Shaibani's visit: Interministerial and security meetings at the Grand Serail

Assaad Shaibani continued his visit to Lebanon with a meeting at the Grand Serail alongside Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, Foreign Minister Joe Rajji, and Justice Minister Adel Nassar.

In parallel, security meetings were held at the Serail between the Director General of Lebanon’s General Security, Hassan Choucair, and Syria’s Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs, General Abdelkader Tahhan, as well as between the head of Lebanese Army Intelligence, Tony Kahwagi, and the head of Syrian Intelligence, Hussein al-Salameh.

Qatari PM: Success of Gaza deal’s first phase is a 'collective responsibility'

The Prime Minister of Qatar, a key mediator in the Israel-Hamas conflict, said the success of the first phase of the Gaza cease-fire deal is a “collective responsibility.”

“The success of this phase is a collective responsibility to ensure the implementation of the agreement and to establish peace and stability,” said Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in a statement issued Friday.

Netanyahu: Forces will stay in Gaza until Hamas disarms

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces will remain in Gaza to maintain pressure on Hamas until the group surrenders its weapons, adding that all hostages will be released in the coming days, according to Reuters.

Netanyahu also stated that Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza demilitarized — “if not by soft means, then by force,” according to Haaretz.

From Baabda: Shaibani highlights Syria’s reconstruction phase

From the Baabda Presidential Palace, Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad Shaibani declared that Syria is entering a “phase of recovery and reconstruction,” which he said should have positive effects on Lebanon and the historic fraternal relations between the two countries.

For the two years anniversary since the start of the war between Hamas and Israel on Oct. 7, al-Jamaa al-Islamiyya, a Lebanese Sunni Islamist group, said that Hamas'

"Al-Aqsa Flood battle made the occupation entity experience its final throes, contrary to the image it seeks to project to the world as if it were victorious."

"Two years have passed, and the Palestinian resistance has proven its steadfastness on the ground, its ability to endure, and to inflict the greatest losses on the occupation, to the point that some of its leaders have admitted defeat before the Palestinian resistance. The only thing the occupation succeeded in was committing massacres and acts of collective extermination against the Palestinian people", reads the statement.

"Freedom is not given to peoples; it is seized ... We renew our support for our people in Palestine, we stand with them and alongside them until their aspirations for liberation and the recovery of their rights are achieved", Al-Jamaa al-Islamiyya added.

Shaibani from Baabda: Syria’s recovery should have positive impact on Lebanon

Speaking from the Baabda Presidential Palace, Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad Shaibani stated that Syria is entering a “phase of recovery and reconstruction,” which he said “should have positive repercussions on Lebanon and on the historic fraternal relations between the two countries.”

Turkish armed forces ready for peacekeeping role in Gaza, cease-fire officially in effect

The Turkish Armed Forces are "ready to assume any mission assigned to them" as part of a peacekeeping effort in Gaza, a Turkish Defense Ministry source said Friday.

“Our experienced armed forces, well-versed in establishing and maintaining peace, are prepared to take on any task entrusted to them,” the official told reporters.

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated in Paris late Thursday that a team composed of the United States, Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar would act as facilitators and mediators to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and engage in discussions with both Israel and Hamas.

Red Cross urges dignified release of hostages and detainees

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which will assist in implementing the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, has called on all parties to ensure that planned prisoner and hostage releases occur with "dignity" and "safety."

Under the agreement, 47 Israeli hostages held in Gaza — at least 25 of whom are believed dead — will be exchanged for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel.

“I urge all parties to uphold their commitments. The release operations must take place safely and with dignity,” said ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric in a statement.

Israeli army confirms cease-fire is now in effect

The Israeli military officially confirmed that the Gaza cease-fire came into effect at noon local time (9:00 GMT).

“Since noon, Israeli troops have begun repositioning along the designated redeployment lines in preparation for the cease-fire agreement and the return of the hostages,” read a statement from the army.

It also noted that Southern Command troops would continue to neutralize any immediate threats.

Shaibani received by Aoun in Baabda

The Syrian foreign minister was later received in Baabda by President Joseph Aoun, according to the state-run National News Agency

Shaibani: Syria respects Lebanon’s sovereignty, seeks to 'overcome past obstacle'

Lebanese Foreign Minister Joe Rajji said he agreed with his Syrian counterpart on the formation of joint committees to address all outstanding issues between Beirut and Damascus.

According to Rajji, Syria has pledged to “respect the Lebanese state and not interfere in its internal affairs,” which he described as a “positive step.”

For his part, Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani reaffirmed “Damascus’ respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty,” adding that Syria aims to “overcome the obstacles of the past and strengthen bilateral relations.” He noted that both countries had been “victims of political mismanagement at certain points in time.”

“My visit to Beirut is meant to reaffirm the depth of Syrian-Lebanese relations,” he stated.

Rajji: The Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council is now a thing of the past

During a press conference with his Syrian counterpart, Lebanese Foreign Minister Joe Rajji announced that the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council — established in 1991 when Lebanon was under Syrian tutelage — is now a matter of the “past,” reports our journalist at Bustros Palace, Salah Hijazi.

Earlier in the day, the Syrian Embassy in Beirut had announced that Syria would suspend the council’s activities.

(Credit: Foreign ministry press office)

Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani alongside his Lebanese counterpart Joe Rajji at Bustros Palace.

Damascus Suspends Activities of Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council

Minister of Foreign Affairs Joe Rajji is currently holding a bilateral meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shaibani who just arrived to Beirut at the ministry’s headquarters, ahead of the start of the expanded talks between the Lebanese and Syrian delegations.

Damascus suspends activities of Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council

Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry has been informed by the Syrian Embassy in Beirut of Damascus’ decision to suspend the activities of the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council and limit all bilateral exchanges to official diplomatic channels.

The move comes just hours before Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shaibani arrived in Beirut to meet with his Lebanese counterpart, Joe Rajji.

The Higher Council was established in 1991 with the signing of the so-called “Fraternity and Cooperation Agreement” between Lebanon and Syria, under the presidency of Elias Hrawi, during the early years of Syria’s tutelage over Lebanon.

Its influence steadily declined after Syria’s military withdrawal from Lebanon in 2005, the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and the opening of the Syrian Embassy in Beirut in 2008. Although it remained formally active, the council’s activities were limited in recent years, with Secretary-General Nasri Khoury occasionally meeting Lebanese officials to discuss current issues.

Israeli army begins withdrawal from parts of northern and southern Gaza

The Israeli military has begun pulling back to redeployment lines outlined in the newly approved Gaza cease-fire agreement, according to Haaretz.

A senior official from Gaza’s Civil Defense, Mohammad al-Moughayyir, confirmed that Israeli forces have withdrawn from several areas in Gaza City in the north, and from parts of Khan Younis in the south.

“In Gaza City, Israeli forces have pulled out from several zones,” he said, adding that in Khan Younis, “Israeli vehicles have withdrawn from the southern and central parts of the city toward eastern areas.”

Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani has arrived at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, according to the state-run National News Agency. This is the first visit by an official Syrian representative since the fall of the former regime in Syria.

The one-day visit comes in response to an invitation from Lebanon's Foreign Minister Joe Rajji. During the visit, the delegation will hold talks on reactivating Lebanese-Syrian diplomatic relations and will discuss several files between the two countries.

From the airport, the Syrian minister and his accompanying delegation will head directly to the Lebanese Foreign Ministry, where Rajji will welcome them. They will then proceed to the Presidential Palace to meet President Joseph Aoun, followed by a visit to the Grand Serail to meet Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

Shaibani's delegation includes the Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar al-Louais al-Wais, Head of Syrian Intelligence Hussein al-Salama, Assistant Interior Minister Major General Abdel Qader Tahan, among others.

Germany to provide $34 million in immediate humanitarian aid to Gaza

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Germany will provide €29 million (around $34 million) in immediate humanitarian aid to Gaza, following Israel’s ratification of the first phase of the peace deal with Hamas.

“We are providing €29 million in humanitarian aid. Together with Egypt, we will invite [partners] to a conference on Gaza’s reconstruction,” Merz said on X (formerly Twitter), adding that Germany will take responsibility in the peace process proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Russia postpones summit with Arab league over Gaza truce implementation

Russia has indefinitely postponed a summit with the Arab League that was originally scheduled to take place next week in Moscow, due to the involvement of several Arab leaders in implementing the Gaza cease-fire agreement.

The announcement came Thursday evening from the Kremlin, following a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the Arab League summit.

According to a Kremlin statement, Putin and al Sudani agreed that “it would be difficult for several Arab leaders to travel to Moscow in person” due to the “start of the active phase of implementing U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza.” As a result, they deemed it “appropriate to postpone the Russia-Arab League summit to a later date,” which has yet to be determined.

New US sanctions against Iran-backed militias and figures in Iraq

The U.S. government announced last night a series of sanctions targeting Iraqi militias and individuals accused of close ties to Tehran and helping it "evade U.S. sanctions, smuggle weapons, and foster corruption in Iraq."

According to a Treasury Department statement, these "Iran-backed groups," besides being responsible for American deaths, "deliberately weaken the Iraqi economy, seize resources through influence trafficking and corruption, and reduce the possibility of forming a functional Iraqi government that would make the region safer."

Targets include the powerful Kataeb Hezbollah group, designated a terrorist organization by Washington, and Aqeel Muftin, president of Iraq’s National Olympic Committee, and his brother Ali, both accused of close ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards intelligence officials. Their bank is accused of laundering Iranian funds. Sanctions also target Iraqi banks and an industrial conglomerate.

Peace plan: Trump assures 'no one will be forced to leave' Gaza

U.S. President Donald Trump assured last night that "no one will be forced to leave" Gaza, repeating a promise from his "peace plan."

“No one will be forced out. No, it’s actually the opposite,” he said from the Oval Office while hosting Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

Lebanon-Syria: Shaibani expected in Beirut

Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shaibani is expected to arrive in Beirut in the coming hours for the first visit by a member of the new Syrian government to Lebanon since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December last year.

Shaibani will meet Lebanese officials, with discussions mainly expected to focus on Syrian detainees in Lebanon, whose release Damascus demands.

The house demolished last night by the Israeli army in Aita al-Shaab. (Credit: Mountasser Abdallah)

South Lebanon: Israeli army demolishes house in Aita al-Shaab

At around 3 a.m., an Israeli army patrol infiltrated about one kilometer into the village of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil) in South Lebanon and demolished a house, reports our correspondent Mountasser Abdallah.

Gaza: Israeli strikes reported in Khan Younes, Israeli soldier killed in the North

Despite the cease-fire agreement, the Israeli army continued airstrikes on the enclave, devastated by over two years of war.

At dawn today, airstrikes and artillery fire were reported in Khan Younes, southern Gaza, according to the Palestinian agency Wafa.

An Israeli army helicopter attack hit eastern Gaza City the day before.

The Israeli army also reported the death of one of its reservists, "shot by sniper fire" in northern Gaza.

Israeli government approves Gaza cease-fire agreement

Early Friday, the Israeli government approved the first phase of the cease-fire and hostage release agreement in Gaza, after strong pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to end the war in the Palestinian territory.

"The government has just approved the framework for the release of all hostages — whether alive or deceased," said the government office quoted by AFP, allowing the agreement to take effect.

This deal, signed overnight in Egypt, is part of a 20-point peace plan for Gaza announced by Trump on September 29, following two years of devastating war.

Welcome to our live coverage of Middle East news

Following the announcement of the first phase of Donald Trump’s peace plan to end the Gaza war, we will also cover the expected visit to Beirut by Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad Shaibani — the first visit by a Syrian minister since the fall of the Assad regime on Dec. 8, 2024 — as well as other regional developments.