‘We don’t need celebrations, we just want to live’
Umm Ahmed, who lost her husband due to the lack of medicine flowing into the Gaza Strip, has been speaking to Nedal Hamdouna on the ground.
“‘Announcing a ceasefire agreement’”, these are simple words, but they carry behind them two years of tears and hearts exhausted by fear,” said Ms Ahmed, 43.
“We grew up listening to the sounds of bombing. Now we try to believe that calm is possible, that night can pass without warning, and that tomorrow can come without panic.
“We don’t need celebrations; we just want to live. We want to return to homes that have been reduced to ashes, to plant what was burned, rebuild what was destroyed, and reunite those who remain.
“This agreement is not the end of the war, but perhaps the beginning of a new life. I hope it will be a lasting peace.”
Alex Croft9 October 2025 10:48
Pictured: Celebrations in Tel Aviv continue
The deal is set to be ratified later today (AP)Donald Trump is being hailed as a hero on hostages square (AFP/Getty)People celebrate following the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to pause the fighting (AP)
Alex Croft9 October 2025 10:39
Deal ‘not politically over the line in Israel’, says defence expert
Our foreign news reporter James Reynolds has been speaking with Dr Andreas Krieg, an associate professor of defence studies at King’s College London.
Dr Krieg told The Independent that the agreement is “not yet over the line politically in Israel”.
He said it requires “security-cabinet and then full cabinet approval, and at least one senior coalition figure has already signalled opposition”.
Dr Krieg added: “A late revolt by hardliners or a demand to amend the text would push the timetable back.”
Alex Croft9 October 2025 10:28
BREAKING: Gaza ceasefire will go into effect once deal ratified – Israeli official
The Gaza ceasefire agreement will go into effect after it is ratified by the Israeli government, a source in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has said.
It comes following reports in Egyptian media that the ceasefire had gone into effect.
The deal was due to be signed at 10am UK time (12pm local time) – it is unclear whether a formal signing has taken place.
We’ll bring you more as it comes in.
(AP)
Alex Croft9 October 2025 10:14
Israel kills 11 Palestinians in the past day, Gaza health ministry says
Israeli forces killed 11 Palestinians in Gaza over the past day, Gaza’s health ministry has reported on Telegram.
Another 49 people were injured over the past 24 hours, it added. Some victims remain under the rubble, where ambulance crews are having difficulties in reaching them.
This brings the total death toll in Gaza to at least 67,194, the ministry added.
Alex Croft9 October 2025 10:02
Hostage release expected on Sunday or Monday, Israeli official tells The Independent
The release of the 20 living Israeli hostages is expected to take place on Sunday or Monday, an Israeli official has told our chief international correspondent Bel Trew.
The 72-hour window in which hostages must be released, as per the guidelines, will begin the moment the Israeli government ratifies the deal, the official said.
Reminder: That meeting is set to take place at 5pm Israeli time (3pm UK time) today. Until then, the ceasefire won’t officially be in place.
Alex Croft9 October 2025 09:57
Watch: Starmer welcomes Gaza peace plan breakthrough
Starmer welcomes Gaza peace plan breakthrough
Alex Croft9 October 2025 09:55
Watch: Trump says deal in ‘Middle East’ is ‘close’ after being handed a note by Marco Rubio
Trump says deal in ‘Middle East’ is ‘close’ after being handed a note by Marco Rubio
Alex Croft9 October 2025 09:53
Who will run a post-war Gaza administration?
Trump’s plan calls for an international body led by Trump himself and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to play a role in Gaza’s post-war administration.
Arab countries which back the plan say it must lead to eventual independence for a Palestinian state, which Netanyahu says will never happen.
Even if a major breakthrough is reached, there is no clear indication who will rule Gaza when the war ends.
Netanyahu, Trump, Western and Arab states have ruled out a role for Hamas, which has run Gaza since driving out Palestinian rivals in 2007.
Hamas has said it was ready to relinquish Gaza governance, but only to a Palestinian technocrat government supervised by the Palestinian Authority and backed by Arab and Muslim countries, as per a longstanding Egyptian proposal.
It rejects any role for Blair or foreign rule of Gaza.
Alex Croft9 October 2025 09:52
Signing of Gaza ceasefire deal expected in under 15 minutes
Earlier, we reported that the Gaza ceasefire deal was due to be signed at 12pm Israeli time (10am UK time).
The signing is expected to take place in the Egyptian beach resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where they negotiated the biggest step yet taken to end two years of devastating warfare.
But the ceasefire coming into effect will still depend on Israel’s security cabinet and government approving the agreement 5pm Israel time (3pm UK time).
There have been few updates about the signing in the past hour, but we’ll bring you the latest as it comes in.
Alex Croft9 October 2025 09:47
