LUCENA CITY — Tatlo ang nasawi, kabilang ang driver ng 10-wheeler truck, habang walo ang sugatan matapos araruhin ng naturang sasakyan ang labing-isang (11) iba pang sasakyan at tatlong bahay sa Barangay Isabang, Lucena City, nitong Sabado ng gabi, Oktubre 11.
Batay sa inisyal na ulat ng Lucena City Police Station, binabaybay ng truck na may kargang mga sako ng abono ang Maharlika Highway patungong city proper nang bigla umanong mawalan ng preno at makawala sa kontrol ng drayber.
Dahil sa bilis ng takbo, sumampa ang kanang bahagi ng truck sa gutter bago inararo ang mga nakaparadang sasakyan sa gilid ng kalsada. Sa lakas ng banggaan, nagliyab ang ilan sa mga sasakyan at tuluy-tuloy pang sumalpok ang truck sa tatlong bahay, na nagdulot ng malaking pinsala sa mga ari-arian.
Nasawi sa insidente ang drayber at pasahero ng isang tricycle na nadamay sa pag-araro, habang walo pa ang nasugatan at agad na dinala sa ospital upang malapatan ng lunas.
Kinilala rin ng mga awtoridad na kabilang sa mga nasawi ang drayber ng truck, na binawian ng buhay habang nilalapatan ng lunas sa ospital.
Bandang alas-7 ng umaga nitong Linggo, Oktubre 12, natagpuan pa ang isa pang bangkay matapos matuklasang naipit sa isa sa mga bahay na tinamaan ng truck.
Ayon sa mga residente, inakala nilang lindol ang dahilan ng pagyanig bago nila matuklasang isang malaking truck pala ang nagdulot ng aksidente.
Patuloy pang iniimbestigahan ng mga awtoridad ang sanhi ng pagkawala ng preno ng naturang truck at ang lawak ng pinsalang iniwan ng insidente.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Israel has excluded Marwan Barghouti, widely regarded as the most popular and potentially unifying Palestinian leader, from the list of prisoners it intends to free under the Gaza ceasefire prisoner exchange, officials and analysts said.
A list of roughly 250 prisoners posted Friday on the Israeli government’s official website did not include Barghouti, who is serving multiple life sentences after his 2004 conviction in attacks that killed five people. It was not immediately clear whether the published list is final. Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk said the group still insists on the release of Barghouti and other high-profile figures and that discussions with mediators were ongoing.
Under the ceasefire arrangement, Hamas is to release dozens of Israeli hostages, while Israel will free some 250 convicted Palestinians and about 1,700 people seized from Gaza in the past two years and held without charge. Many of those on the Israeli list are members of Hamas and the Fatah faction arrested during the Second Intifada in the 2000s; most were convicted of involvement in shootings, bombings or other attacks that killed or attempted to kill Israeli civilians, settlers, or soldiers. More than half of those to be released will be sent to Gaza or exiled outside the Palestinian territories, the list showed.
Named prisoners slated for release include Iyad Abu al-Rub, an Islamic Jihad commander convicted of orchestrating suicide bombings in Israel from 2003–2005 that killed 13 people; Samir Abu Naama, a Fatah member arrested in 1986 and the oldest and longest-imprisoned person on the list at 64; and Mohammed Abu Qatish, who was 16 when arrested in 2022 and convicted of an attempted stabbing.
Israel has long viewed Barghouti as a terrorist leader. He was convicted of murder for his alleged role in attacks linked to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and was given five life sentences after refusing to recognize the court’s authority and declining to mount a defense at trial. While imprisoned, Barghouti also registered a parliamentary list for elections that were later canceled and led a 40-day hunger strike in 2017 with more than 1,500 prisoners demanding better treatment.
Barghouti, 66, is widely seen among Palestinians as a consensus figure and a potential successor to President Mahmoud Abbas. Some Palestinians compare him to Nelson Mandela for his stature across political divides. Analysts warn that his release could strengthen Palestinian institutions and present a political challenge to both Israel and Abbas’s administration.
Mouin Rabbani, a nonresident fellow at Democracy for the Arab World Now, said Barghouti is “seen as a credible national leader, someone who can lead the Palestinians in a way Abbas as consistently failed to,” and that Israel is “keen to avoid” such an outcome. Eyal Zisser, vice rector of Tel Aviv University, said Barghouti’s popularity could bolster Palestinian institutions, a prospect Israel’s right-wing government opposes.
Israeli authorities also point to security concerns and experience as reasons to reject Barghouti’s release. Officials recall the 2011 exchange that freed senior Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who later played a central role in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and went on to lead Hamas before being killed by Israeli forces last year. Israel fears a repeat of history if senior militants or powerful political figures are returned to prominence.
Barghouti has described his own stance on armed struggle and politics in stark terms. In a 2002 Washington Post editorial, he wrote, “I am not a terrorist, but neither am I a pacifist.” In August, he was publicly admonished by Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir in a video posted from inside a prison, in which Ben-Gvir warned the state would confront “anyone who acts against the country and ‘wipe them out.’”
The debate over prisoner releases highlights the deep divide in perceptions: Israelis generally view the freed prisoners as convicted terrorists, while many Palestinians see thousands held by Israel as political prisoners or fighters resisting occupation. As negotiations proceed, the exclusion of Barghouti is likely to remain a central sticking point between Hamas, mediators, and Israel.
DOSTPAGASA —Magdudulot ng maulap na panahon at mga pag-ulan ang umiiral na easterlies sa silangang bahagi ng bansa ngayong Linggo, ayon sa Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Sa ulat ng ahensya, makararanas ng maulap na kalangitan na may kalat-kalat na pag-ulan at pagkidlat-pagkulog ang mga lalawigan ng Aurora at Quezon dahil sa epekto ng easterlies. Pinag-iingat ang publiko sa posibleng pagbaha o pagguho ng lupa bunsod ng katamtaman hanggang sa malakas na buhos ng ulan.
Samantala, bahagyang maulap hanggang maulap na papawirin naman na may mga pulu-pulong pag-ulan o pagkidlat-pagkulog ang mararanasan sa Metro Manila, Visayas, nalalabing bahagi ng Luzon, Caraga, at Davao Region. Posible rin ang pagbaha o landslide sa panahon ng malalakas na thunderstorm.
Ang natitirang bahagi ng Mindanao ay makakaranas din ng bahagyang maulap hanggang maulap na kalangitan na may mga pulu-pulong pag-ulan o pagkidlat-pagkulog dulot ng mga localized thunderstorm. Babala rin ng PAGASA, ang malalakas na bagyong may kasamang kulog ay maaaring magdulot ng biglaang pagbaha o pagguho ng lupa.
Mananatiling banayad hanggang katamtaman ang pag-alon sa mga baybaying dagat sa buong bansa.
Ayon pa sa PAGASA, sumikat ang araw kaninang 5:47 ng umaga at lulubog ito mamayang 5:38 ng hapon.
MAYNILA — Isinaalang-alang ng International Criminal Court (ICC) ang mga pampublikong pahayag ni Vice President Sara Duterte at ang papel sa politika ng kanyang kapatid na si Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte sa naging desisyon nitong huwag payagan ang hiling ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na pansamantalang makalaya mula sa detention.
Batay sa 23-pahinang desisyon ng ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I, nananatiling “flight risk” si Duterte at itinuturing na potensyal na banta sa mga testigo, bukod pa sa posibilidad na muling gawin ang mga krimeng ibinibintang sa kanya.
Ayon sa korte, ang mga pahayag at posisyon ng kanyang mga anak ay nagpatibay sa pangamba na maaaring hindi humarap sa paglilitis ang dating pangulo at posibleng umiwas sa “commission of related crimes.”
Kabilang sa mga binanggit ng ICC ang mga pahayag ni VP Sara Duterte, na nagbiro noong Hulyo sa harap ng mga tagasuporta na itatakas ang kanyang ama at nagpahayag pa ng paniniwalang kinidnap ito at dinala sa The Hague. Tinukoy din ng korte ang pahayag umano ni Sara na nais ng kanyang ama na bumalik sa Davao City kung sakaling palayain.
“The foregoing illustrates Mr. Duterte’s rejection of the proceedings against him before the Court, and the will of his close family to help him elude detention and prosecution,” ayon sa desisyon ng mga hukom.
Dagdag pa ng ICC, nananatili ang malakas na impluwensya sa pulitika ni Duterte dahil sa mga mataas na posisyon ng kanyang mga anak sa gobyerno. Binanggit ng korte ang kasalukuyang tungkulin ni Baste Duterte bilang acting mayor ng Davao City, isa sa mga lugar na iniimbestigahan kaugnay ng umano’y extrajudicial killings.
Ayon sa korte, maaaring gamitin ng dating pangulo ang mga lokal na network at impluwensya sa Davao City upang makaiwas sa hustisya.
Itinanggi rin ng ICC ang argumento ng depensa hinggil sa edad at kalusugan ni Duterte. Bagaman nagsumite ng medical reports ang kanyang mga abogado na nagsasabing mahina na ang dating pangulo, sinabi ng korte na hindi ito sapat na patunay na hindi na siya “flight risk.”
Hindi rin tinanggap ng chamber ang 16 na panukalang kondisyon na inihain ng depensa para sa pansamantalang pagpapalaya ni Duterte, kabilang na ang paggamit ng electronic monitoring, limitadong galaw, at restriksyon sa komunikasyon.
Sa ngayon, nananatiling nasa kustodiya ng ICC si dating Pangulong Duterte habang nagpapatuloy ang proseso kaugnay ng mga kasong may kinalaman sa umano’y extrajudicial killings sa war on drugs noong panahon ng kanyang administrasyon.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas held for a second day on Saturday, allowing tens of thousands of Palestinians to return to their devastated neighborhoods in Gaza. At the same time, Israelis anticipated the release of the remaining hostages expected on Monday.
“Gaza is completely destroyed. I have no idea where we should live or where to go,” said Mahmoud al-Shandoghli in Gaza City as bulldozers cleared the debris left by two years of war. Amid the ruins, a young boy climbed the rubble to raise a Palestinian flag.
In Tel Aviv, hundreds of thousands of Israelis gathered for what many hoped would be the final rally calling for the return of hostages. The crowd cheered U.S. President Donald Trump and his envoy Steve Witkoff, while some booed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“To the hostages themselves, our brothers and sisters, you are coming home,” Witkoff told the crowd. U.S. envoy Jared Kushner added that celebrations would take place Monday, when Israel’s military expects the 48 hostages still in Gaza to be freed. However, the government believes only about 20 remain alive. “It’s a really happy time, but we know that there are going to be some incredibly difficult moments coming,” said Yaniv Peretz, one of the participants.
Around 200 U.S. troops have arrived in Israel to help monitor the truce with Hamas. They will assist in establishing a center to coordinate humanitarian aid and logistical operations. “This great effort will be achieved with no U.S. boots on the ground in Gaza,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, head of the U.S. Central Command.
According to the Egyptian presidency, President Trump is set to co-chair a peace summit in Egypt on Monday, focusing on Gaza and the broader Middle East. French President Emmanuel Macron is also expected to attend.
A copy of the signed ceasefire agreement, obtained by the Associated Press and verified by two officials, outlines that Hamas must provide information about the bodies of hostages not released within 72 hours, while Israel must share details about deceased Palestinians from Gaza held in Israel. The information exchange will be facilitated by mediators and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which will also oversee the exhumation and handover of remains.
Under the terms of the deal, Israel will release about 250 convicted Palestinian prisoners and around 1,700 detainees from Gaza held without charges over the past two years. The Israel Prison Service confirmed that prisoners have already been transferred to deportation facilities at Ofer and Ktzi’ot prisons, “awaiting instructions from the political echelon.”
Humanitarian organizations have urged Israel to reopen additional border crossings to allow food and aid into famine-stricken Gaza. A U.N. official confirmed that Israel has approved expanded aid deliveries starting Sunday. The World Food Program (WFP) announced readiness to restore 145 food distribution points, compared to 400 before the full closure of Gaza last March. Currently, 170,000 metric tons of food aid are positioned in neighboring countries, awaiting entry clearance.
Questions persist about who will govern Gaza once Israeli forces complete their withdrawal and whether Hamas will comply with the disarmament requirement stated in the ceasefire. Netanyahu has warned that Israel could resume its offensive if Hamas fails to surrender its weapons, emphasizing that the next phase will focus on “Hamas’ disarmament.”
In Gaza, the full extent of destruction is still emerging. Officials at Shifa Hospital reported receiving 45 bodies recovered from the rubble in the past 24 hours, many missing for up to two weeks.
Trump’s 20-point postwar plan envisions Israel maintaining a long-term military presence along Gaza’s borders while an international peacekeeping force composed mainly of Arab and Muslim nations oversees internal security. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has called for this deployment to be authorized by the U.N. Security Council.
The Israeli military confirmed it continues to operate “defensively” from about half of Gaza’s territory, where troops remain after partial withdrawals.
Witkoff told Israeli officials that the United States will set up a coordination center in Israel to oversee Gaza-related issues until a permanent government is formed.
The war, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages, has left more than 67,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry affiliated with Hamas does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but estimates that around half of the victims were women and children.
The conflict has fueled regional instability, mass protests, and accusations of genocide that Israel strongly denies.
As the truce continues to hold, both sides and the world await Monday’s developments that could mark a turning point in the region’s long and painful conflict.
TANDAG CITY – Yumanig sa baybayin ng Cagwait, Surigao del Sur ang magnitude 6.0 na lindol nitong Sabado ng gabi, ayon sa Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). Naitala ang lindol bandang 10:32 p.m., na may lalim na 24 kilometro at sentrong 28 kilometro sa hilagang-silangan ng Cagwait.
Una itong tinaya sa magnitude 6.2 bago inamyendahan ng ahensiya.
Batay sa ulat ng PHIVOLCS, naramdaman ang mga sumusunod na intensity sa iba’t ibang lugar:
Intensity IV – Cagwait at Carmen, Surigao del Sur; Cagayan de Oro City; Davao City; Butuan City
Intensity III – Abuyog, Leyte; ilang bayan sa Southern Leyte; Bukidnon; Bislig City, Surigao del Sur; Mati City, Davao Oriental
Intensity II – Leyte, Samar, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Norte
Instrumental Intensities: pinakamataas sa Intensity IV sa Hinunangan, Southern Leyte; Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte; Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; at Tandag City, Surigao del Sur
Ayon sa PHIVOLCS, inaasahan ang mga aftershock at posibleng pinsala matapos ang pagyanig. Ang insidente ay naganap isang araw matapos ang tinaguriang doublet earthquake sa Manay, Davao Oriental, kung saan walo ang nasawi ayon sa Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
Kasunod ng sunod-sunod na lindol sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa, nagpaalala ang PHIVOLCS sa publiko hinggil sa tamang dapat gawin tuwing lumilindol.
“May nakikita tayo mga adults sa Cebu, sa Davao also, na nagtatakbuhan during the shaking, which is hindi natin nire-recommend ‘yan kasi ang sinasabi natin, if there’s a strong shaking, you stay put, you do the duck, cover, and hold,” pahayag ni PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol sa ulat ng 24 Oras Weekend.
Binigyang-diin niya na mas mapanganib ang magtakbuhan dahil maaaring magdulot ito ng stampede o pagkadagan ng mga tao. “Kasi kung tatakbo ka during the shaking, pwede kang matumba, ‘yung kasunod sa ‘yo, puwede rin matumba. And then magpa-pile up din ‘yung mga bodies,” dagdag niya.
Ipinaliwanag din ni Bacolcol na hindi dapat umakyat sa mataas na palapag habang lumilindol. “Kasi kung during the shaking, aakyat ka dahil natatakot ka na bumagsak ‘yung building, gano’n din, ‘yung building babagsak yan during the shaking. It’s not after ka nakarating sa taas, and saka ‘yan babagsak,” aniya.
Payo ng PHIVOLCS, kapag tumigil na ang pagyanig, dapat bumaba agad sa exit o fire exit upang makalabas nang ligtas. Sa oras ng aftershock, panatilihin pa rin ang duck, cover, and hold at humanap ng matibay na lugar, gaya ng ilalim ng pintuan.
Kung abutan ng lindol sa labas o kalsada, manatili sa lugar na malayo sa poste o punong maaaring bumagsak, at huwag tumakbo. Kung nasa sasakyan, manatili sa loob at huwag muna itong paandarin.
Para sa mga nasa tabing-dagat, pinaalalahanan din ng PHIVOLCS na lumayo agad kapag umatras ang tubig o may kakaibang tunog sa dagat, na maaaring senyales ng paparating na tsunami. “Takbo ka na agad to a higher place. Huwag nang mag-Facebook live. Ang ginawa pa parang mag-Facebook live pa yata. Which is, paano kung bumalik ‘yun as a tsunami wave and mataas ‘yung alon?” paalala ni Bacolcol.
Patuloy na minomonitor ng PHIVOLCS ang mga aftershock habang pinapaalalahanan ang publiko na manatiling kalma, alerto, at handa sa anumang oras ng pagyanig.
LOS ANGELES, USA — Viral posts claiming that tech entrepreneur Elon Musk is a 3,000-year-old alien have been debunked by experts as pure fiction. The sensational claim, which circulated widely on social media, appears to have originated from satirical memes and online conspiracy jokes.
“There is absolutely no evidence to support this claim,” said Dr. Alicia Ramirez, a media literacy expert at the University of California. “Elon Musk is a human being, born in 1971, and the idea that he could be a millennia-old alien is completely unfounded.”
The rumors sparked amusement and confusion online, with some users sharing doctored images and humorous videos suggesting Musk had existed for centuries. However, science communicators stress the importance of distinguishing satire from fact, especially in an era where misinformation spreads rapidly.
“Elon Musk’s age and achievements are well-documented,” said Dr. Peter Nguyen, an astrophysicist. “While he has pushed the boundaries of technology and space exploration, he is not extraterrestrial; he is very much human.”
The viral claim underscores how quickly humorous or outlandish content can go viral, particularly when it involves high-profile figures like Musk. Experts encourage social media users to verify information before sharing it, reminding the public that not everything online is true—even if it looks convincing.
As of now, Musk has not commented publicly on the rumors, leaving the internet to continue joking about the idea of a 3,000-year-old tech visionary roaming Earth.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump was passed over for the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday despite nominations from fellow Republicans, world leaders, and his own advocacy. The 2025 award was instead given to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who was recognized “for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy,” according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
Machado dedicated the award to Trump, praising his support for her cause, and confirmed that he congratulated her in a phone call on Friday. At the White House, Trump highlighted the peace efforts he had made during his presidency. “The person who actually got the Nobel Prize called me and said, ‘I’m accepting this in honor of you because you really deserved it,’” he said. “I didn’t say, ‘Then give it to me,’ I think she might have. She was very nice.”
White House communications director Steven Cheung criticized the committee for allegedly placing politics over peace, citing Trump’s role in brokering a Gaza ceasefire this week. Trump himself emphasized that some nominations he received came after the February 1, 2025, deadline, including one from Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney of New York for his role in brokering the 2020 Abraham Accords.
Trump has long sought the Nobel Peace Prize, often citing his work in ending conflicts abroad. He has also expressed skepticism that the Nobel Committee would ever award him the honor. At the same time, the Gaza ceasefire offers hope for peace, other global conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, remain unresolved, challenging claims of his impact on international stability.
International supporters, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, publicly praised Trump’s efforts and criticized the committee’s decision. Netanyahu’s office posted on X: “The Nobel Committee talks about peace. President @realDonaldTrump makes it happen. The facts speak for themselves. President #Trump deserves it.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, while praising the Gaza ceasefire deal that Trump helped broker, said it was “not up to him to judge whether Trump should have received the prize.” He also criticized the Nobel Committee’s past decisions, noting that it has previously awarded the prize to individuals who, in his view, contributed little to advancing global peace. Trump responded to Putin’s remarks on social media, posting, “Thank you to President Putin!”
Despite high-profile nominations, including from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Pakistan’s government, Trump will have to wait longer for the recognition he has long sought.
The Nobel Peace Prize, first awarded in 1901, honors individuals or groups “who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” Three sitting U.S. presidents, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Barack Obama, have won the prize, while former Vice President Al Gore and ex-president Jimmy Carter were awarded after leaving office.
Trump’s repeated pursuit of the prize underscores his continued focus on his perceived global peacemaking role even as domestic and international critics question the breadth and impact of his actions.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado waves from atop a truck during the closing election campaign rally for presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File)
MAYNILA — Tinanggihan ng International Criminal Court (ICC) ang kahilingang interim release o pansamantalang paglaya ng kampo ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, ayon sa inilabas na desisyon ng ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1.
Batay sa resolusyon, mananatiling nakadetine si Duterte habang isinasagawa ang paglilitis laban sa kanya. Ayon sa ICC, kinakailangang ipagpatuloy ang kanyang pagkakakulong upang matiyak ang kanyang pagdalo sa mga pagdinig.
“The Chamber finds that Mr. Duterte’s detention continues to remain necessary to ensure his appearance at trial, since the latter, ‘from his initial appearance, contested his arrest and detention, qualifying it as a pure and simple kidnapping,’” ayon sa bahagi ng desisyon ng ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1.
Dagdag pa ng hukuman, “In addition, his family not only physically resisted, but also publicly voiced criticism regarding his arrest and detention, and demanded that he should be brought back to the Philippines.”
Nahaharap si Duterte sa tatlong counts ng crimes against humanity dahil umano sa pagkakasangkot sa hindi bababa sa 76 na pagpatay na kaugnay ng kanyang inilunsad na “giyera laban sa droga.”
Ang unang kaso ay tumutukoy sa umano’y pagkakasangkot ni Duterte bilang co-perpetrator sa 19 na pagpatay na naganap mula 2013 hanggang 2016, sa panahon ng kanyang panunungkulan bilang alkalde ng Davao City.
Ang ikalawang kaso ay kaugnay ng 14 na pagpatay sa mga tinaguriang “High Value Targets” noong 2016 at 2017, nang siya ay nakaupong pangulo.
Samantala, ang ikatlong kaso ay sumasaklaw sa humigit-kumulang 43 na pagpatay na naganap sa mga “clearance operations” laban sa mga umano’y gumagamit at nagtutulak ng droga.
Inaresto si Duterte sa Maynila noong Marso 11, 2025, at agad na inilipad sa The Hague, Netherlands, kung saan siya ngayon nakapiit sa detention unit ng ICC sa Scheveningen Prison.
JERUSALEM/CAIRO — Thousands of displaced Palestinians made their way back to the devastated landscapes of Gaza on Friday after a ceasefire took effect and Israeli forces began withdrawing under the first phase of a U.S.-brokered agreement aimed at ending two years of war.
Long lines of men, women, and children walked north along Gaza’s coastal highway toward Gaza City, the enclave’s largest urban area, recently struck by one of Israel’s most intense offensives.
“Thank God my house is still standing,” said 40-year-old Ismail Zayda in the Sheikh Radwan district. “But the place is destroyed, my neighbours’ houses are destroyed, entire districts have gone.”
In Khan Younis, Gaza’s second-largest city, residents moved silently through what was once a bustling city, now reduced to rubble. Ahmed al-Brim, pushing a bicycle loaded with scrap wood, said his family would use the timber for cooking. “We went to our area. It was exterminated. We don’t know where we will go after that,” he said. “We couldn’t get the furniture, or clothes, or anything, not even winter clothes. Nothing is left.”
Palestinian health authorities reported that medical teams had recovered 100 bodies from across the Gaza Strip after Israeli forces pulled back.
The ceasefire marks the first step of a deal between Israel and Hamas, with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration touting it as part of a broader 20-point plan to bring lasting peace to the region. Speaking from the White House, Trump expressed optimism, saying: “They’re all tired of the fighting.” He added that a “consensus” existed on the next steps, though “some details would still have to be worked out.”
The Israeli military confirmed the ceasefire took effect at noon local time (0900 GMT). Under the first phase, Israeli troops are required to withdraw from urban areas within 24 hours but will maintain control over more than half of Gaza.
Israel’s government ratified the agreement early Friday. Hamas now has 72 hours to release 20 Israeli hostages still believed to be alive. Trump said the hostages are expected to “come back” on Monday. In exchange, Israel will release 250 Palestinians serving long sentences and 1,700 detainees captured during the war. Hundreds of aid trucks carrying food and medical supplies are expected to enter Gaza daily.
As part of the next phase, Trump’s plan envisions the creation of an international “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s post-war governance, with Trump himself expected to lead it alongside former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. However, Hamas rejected this element of the plan, saying it opposed any “foreign guardianship” and insisted that “governance of Gaza is purely an internal Palestinian matter.”
In a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said forces would remain in parts of Gaza to ensure Hamas was disarmed. “If this is achieved the easy way, then that will be good, and if not, then it will be achieved the hard way,” he said.
The U.S. president is set to visit the Middle East in the coming days, with planned stops in Israel and Egypt. Trump is expected to address the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, in the first such speech by a U.S. president since 2008. Reports also indicate he will host an international summit on Gaza while in Cairo.
As Israeli troops loosened their positions, the flow of returning Palestinians grew from a trickle to a flood. “Of course there are no homes—they’ve been destroyed,” said 40-year-old Mahdi Saqla, walking toward Gaza City with his family. “But we are happy just to return to where our homes were, even over the rubble. That too is a great joy. For two years, we’ve been suffering, displaced from place to place.”
The war, which erupted after Hamas fighters attacked Israeli communities and a music festival on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, has left more than 67,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza’s health authorities.
The ceasefire agreement, if fully implemented, would mark the closest both sides have come to ending the prolonged conflict. Yet many challenges remain, including the question of who will govern Gaza and how Hamas will respond to calls for disarmament.
The Hamas-run interior ministry said it would deploy security forces in areas vacated by Israeli troops, though it remained unclear whether armed militants would also return, a move Israel would likely consider a provocation.
Brigadier General Effie Defrin, an Israeli military spokesperson, urged residents to “keep to the agreement and ensure your safety.”
The exiled Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya said he had received “guarantees from the United States and other mediators that the war was over.”
For now, weary Gazans continue to return to what remains of their homes, hopeful that this fragile ceasefire might finally mark the beginning of peace after years of devastation.
Displaced Palestinians walk with their belongings along the coastal road near Wadi Gaza in the central Gaza Strip, moving toward Gaza City, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, after Israel and Hamas have agreed to a pause in their war and the release of the remaining hostages. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
