Thousands of Israelis have gathered in Tel Aviv to welcome the last living hostages, who will be freed from Gaza on Monday.
The release of Israeli hostages is expected to begin at 8am local time from the Netzarim corridor and continue at 10am in Gaza's Khan Younis, according to reports.
Israel has warned against “any sick displays by Hamas” during the release of hostages. “We are expecting all 20 of our living hostages to be released together at one time to the Red Cross and transported among six to eight vehicles without any sick displays by Hamas,” spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has said that the war in Gaza has ended as he flew to Israel ahead of Hamas’ expected release of the Israeli hostages.
“The war is over, you understand that," he told reporters, adding that he believes the Middle East is “going to normalise”.
The ceasefire, which came into place on Friday morning, has seen Palestinians returning to their homes, which have been flattened by Israeli bombardment. Hundreds of bodies have been found under the rubble.
Read More
Key Points
- Trump says 'war is over' when asked about Gaza
- Hostages will start to be freed from 8am, according to reports
- Hostage release to begin early Monday morning, Israel spokeswoman says
- Starmer arrives in Sharm El Sheikh ahead of world leaders' summit on ending Gaza war
- Palestinian Authority President Abbas to attend summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, according to reports
Live: Thousands gather in Tel Aviv as Israel prepares to welcome the last living hostages from Gaza
04:07
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Comment | The people I spoke to in Hostages Square know Netanyahu faces a reckoning
03:00
,
Alex Croft
The scene in Hostages Square, Tel Aviv, on Thursday afternoon was one of nervous relief rather than joy. There had been too many false dawns for anyone to start unbridled celebrations.
The giant digital clock, when I dropped by, recorded 733 days, 11 hours and 47 minutes since 251 hostages were snatched in October 2023. Crowds milled aimlessly around; reporters scanned their mobiles for updates; the merch stalls were doing good business for hostage T-shirts, coffee cups and keyrings. Two women took it in turns to hold a giant placard proclaiming: “We love Trump. He who saves just one life saves an entire world.” Well, perhaps.
I stooped my way through the “tunnel experience” – an art installation claiming to simulate the underground experience of the hostages – and paused to watch a circle of relatives quietly dancing and singing. A former hostage, Omer Shem Tov, cautioned the crowd against too much hope. “With all that joy, I have to say: it’s not over yet.”
Alan Rusbridger writes:
Netanyahu spokesperson addresses moment Israeli prime minister booed at Hostages Square rally
02:00
,
Alex Croft
Palestinian prisoners and detainees to be released once hostages cross border - Israeli spokeswoman
01:03
,
Alex Croft
Palestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released as soon as Israel has confirmation that all the hostages set to be released tomorrow are across the border into Israel, an Israeli spokeswoman said.
Spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian did not confirm whether she was referring to the 20 living hostages, or the 48 in total including those who have died.
But based on answers to other questions, and given reports that not all of the 28 deceased hostages have been located in Gaza, it appears she was referring to the living hostages.
Palestinian prisoners and detainees will already be in the buses when the hostages are due to cross into Israeli territory, she said.
“Once the confirmation comes through that they have crossed into Israeli territory, those buses will start and they will begin their journey [into Gaza],”she said.
‘Everything is wiped out – there is nothing to salvage’: The bleak reality for Palestinians returning home after the ceasefire
Monday 13 October 2025 00:01
,
Alex Croft
Stretching out to the horizon in front of Palestinian father of two Said is a breathtaking level of destruction few can imagine. The apartment buildings in this north Gaza city are so eviscerated that they have been reduced to dust. It is hard to even call it rubble – it looks like ash.
“This is the location of our home. Nothing is visible,” Said says, pointing to an indiscernible mountain of grey, with a deadness in his voice. “Wiped out. Evaporated. It is as if there were never a house here at all.”
As soon as the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect at noon Friday, Said, 34, was among the first to take the deadly risk of marching north to find his home. Displaced countless times since the start of Israel’s two-year bombardment and siege on Gaza, he had hoped to at least recover some precious items, like photos, from his home.
“When I came back today I expected my home to be a collapsed building that we could retrieve belongings from,” he tells The Independent, sending videos and photos of the scene.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians are taking the long march home to north Gaza, only to find ash and ruins, report Nedal Hamdouna and Bel Trew
Trump wants to find out if Blair is 'an acceptable choice to everybody'
Sunday 12 October 2025 23:39
,
Tara Cobham
The Independent’s Washington DC Correspondent John Bowden reports:
Donald Trump has said that he wants to find out if Tony Blair is “an acceptable choice to everybody”.
He told reporters on board Air Force One: “First, I want to find out if Tony [Blair] would be popular with all, because I just don’t know that – I like Tony, I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to find out that he’s an acceptable choice to everybody.”
Trump believes Middle East is going to 'normalise'
Sunday 12 October 2025 23:21
,
Tara Cobham
The war in Gaza has ended and the Middle East is going to “normalise”, US President Donald Trump said on Sunday as he flew to Israel, which was waiting for Hamas to release Israeli hostages as world leaders were gathering to discuss the next steps toward peace.
"The war is over, you understand that," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he began a flight from Washington to Israel.
Asked about prospects for the region, Trump said, "I think it's going to normalise."
Watch: Moment Tel Aviv crowd boos as US envoy Witkoff thanks Netanyahu at Hostages Square rally
Sunday 12 October 2025 23:00
,
Alex Croft
Trump says ‘all sides cheering’ as he flies to Israel
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:33
,
Tara Cobham
The Independent’s Washington DC Correspondent John Bowden reports:
Donald Trump has said that all sides are “cheering at one time” .
He told reporters on board Air Force One: “They had 500,000 people yesterday and today, in Israel, and also the Muslim and Arab countries are all cheering. Everybody is cheering at one time. That's never happened before."
Trump says he is 'not worried about anything' as he flies to Israel
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:30
,
Tara Cobham
The Independent’s Washington DC Correspondent John Bowden reports:
Donald Trump has said he is “not worried about anything”.
As he flies to Israel on board Air Force One, the US president told reporters: “I’m not worried about anything. I think we have a great deal, and it's a great deal for everybody. You know, a great deal is a deal, where everybody is happy, and every country, they're dancing in the streets, that's a great deal. It's a unique, a unique period in time.”
Trump says he would like to go to Gaza as he leaves US for Middle East
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:28
,
Tara Cobham
The Independent’s Washington DC Correspondent John Bowden reports:
Donald Trump has said he would like to go to Gaza as he left the US for his trip to the Middle East.
When asked about going to the Strip, the US president told reporters on board Air Force One: “I would, yeah. I'd be proud to....I'd like to do it. I'd like to put my feet on it, at least.”
German deputy leader signals lifting curbs of arms exports to Israel
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:23
,
Tara Cobham
Germany's Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil on Sunday signalled his government would lift restrictions on supplying weapons to Israel that were announced in August as a rebuke to Israel's expanding military operations in Gaza.
The remarks by Klingbeil to German broadcaster ARD on Sunday evening suggested a policy shift following the Gaza peace plan, with a ceasefire holding between Israel and Hamas for a third day ahead of a peace summit in Egypt on Monday.
"We will reassess the situation," Klingbeil said about the weapons exports.
Germany is Israel's second biggest weapons supplier after the US, and has long been one of its staunchest supporters, principally because of historical guilt for the Nazi Holocaust – a policy known as the "Staatsraison".
In August, however, Germany suspended exports of weaponry that could be used in the Gaza Strip because of Israel's plan to expand its operations there – the first time united Germany had acknowledged denying military support to its long-time ally. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to travel to Egypt to participate in the signing ceremony for the peace plan.
Trump says 'war is over' when asked about Gaza
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:22
,
Tara Cobham
Donald Trump has said the “war is over” when asked about Gaza.
The US president also promised “it’s going to be fine” and outlined that a “board of peace” will be set up quickly for the Strip, which he described as “like a demolition site”.
Canadian PM Carney to head to Egypt for summit on ending war in Gaza
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:06
,
Tara Cobham
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt for a world leaders' summit on ending Israel's war in Gaza, his office said on Sunday.
UK pledges $27 million in latest aid package for Gaza
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:05
,
Tara Cobham
Britain will provide a £20 million ($27 million) aid package to deliver water, sanitation and hygiene services in Gaza, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday, as he arrived in Egypt for a world leaders' summit on ending the conflict.
Britain said the funding would be delivered through UNICEF, the World Food Programme and the Norwegian Refugee Council and was designed to reach those facing famine, malnutrition and disease.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas held in Gaza for a third day on Sunday – part of the first phase of an agreement to end the war after two years.
Britain said it would also host a three-day summit on the reconstruction of Gaza that would include international government representatives, private sector and development finance representatives, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank.
Britain said this financial year it had given £74 million in humanitarian support to Palestine, which it formally recognised as a state last month.
Starmer arrives in Sharm El Sheikh ahead of world leaders' summit on ending Gaza war
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:03
,
Tara Cobham
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in Sharm El Sheikh.
A world leaders’ summit on ending the Gaza war is set to be held in the Egyptian city on Monday.
Trump seeking return to Abraham Accords after Gaza ceasefire
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:02
,
Alex Croft
The White House has signalled that Donald Trump is looking to quickly return attention to building on a first-term effort known as the Abraham Accords, which forged diplomatic and commercial ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.
A permanent agreement in Gaza would help pave the path for Trump to begin talks with Saudi Arabia as well Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country, toward normalizing ties with Israel, according to a senior Trump administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity.
Such a deal with Saudi Arabia, the most powerful and wealthy Arab state, has the potential to reshape the region and boost Israel's standing in historic ways.
But brokering such an agreement remains a heavy lift as the kingdom has said it won't officially recognize Israel before a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hostages will start to be freed from 8am, according to reports
Sunday 12 October 2025 22:00
,
Tara Cobham
The Israeli hostages will start to be freed from 8am local time (6am UK time) on Monday morning, according to reports.
Hamas will release an initial group, then another group one hour later, Sky News reported, citing local media, including reports made by the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation.
Officially, Israel has only said that the hostages should be freed “in a few hours”, meaning sometime early Monday morning.
Trump leaves for his trip to Israel and Egypt
Sunday 12 October 2025 21:49
,
Tara Cobham
Donald Trump has left for his trip to Israel and Egypt.
The US President was seen boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
Trump says his trip to the Middle East is going to be a 'very special event'
Sunday 12 October 2025 21:46
,
Tara Cobham
Donald Trump has said his trip to the Middle East is going to be a “very special event”.
Speaking to reporters ahead of travelling to Israel, the US president also said: “We're going to have an amazing time... This is going to be a very special time. Everybody is very excited about this moment in time.”
He added that “everybody is cheering at one time” in a reference to Arab states and Israel. “It's going to be something that's never happened before.”
Herzog: As soon as hostages return, Israel is not going to war
Sunday 12 October 2025 21:00
,
Alex Croft
Around 9,500 Palestinians known to be missing in Gaza strip, say local authorities
Sunday 12 October 2025 20:00
,
Alex Croft
Civil authorities in the Gaza Strip have said there are believed to be around 9,500 Palestinians currently missing, Wafa news agency reported.
It comes as rescuers begin sifting through the rubble in areas of the strip which were hard to reach due to Israel’s invasion and bombardment of the strip.
Hundreds of bodies have been recovered from the rubble since the ceasefire came into effect on Friday morning, medics and emergency workers in the strip say.
Netanyahu also warns 'the campaign is not over'
Sunday 12 October 2025 19:06
,
Tara Cobham
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also warned that “the campaign is not over”.
He said: “There are still very great security challenges ahead of us.
“Some of our enemies are trying to rebuild themselves to attack us again. And as we say – ‘We’re on it.’”
Netanyahu anticipates 'historic' return of hostages
Sunday 12 October 2025 19:03
,
Tara Cobham
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the expected return of the hostages on Monday as a “historic event”.
In a statement issued on Sunday evening, he said: “Citizens of Israel, my brothers and sisters, this is an emotional evening, an evening of tears, an evening of joy. Because tomorrow, children will return to their border. This is a historic event.”
He told of meeting with the hostages’ families and seeing “their pain, their yearning, their tears”.
He said: “These meetings were with me in every decision I made during the war. We embraced the families, and I promised them: ‘I will not rest until I bring your loved ones back.’”
He described Monday as “the beginning of a new path”, adding: “A path of building, a path of healing, and I hope – a path of uniting hearts.”
‘Our nightmare is coming to an end’: Trump flies to Israel to push through last critical hours of Gaza ceasefire
Sunday 12 October 2025 19:00
,
Tara Cobham
Donald Trump is en route to Israel and Egypt to oversee the critical hours of a Gaza ceasefire he helped broker, as relatives of hostages “held their breath” ahead of their expected release
For the first time, Hamas militants have agreed to release all 48 remaining hostages - 20 alive, 26 confirmed dead, and two whose lives were “serious danger” with an unknown status. The deadline for Hamas to return the captives who have been held for two years expires at midday Monday (10am BST).
Shortly afterwards, 1,700 Palestinians detained from Gaza since October 2023 and 250 more serving life sentences will be released from Israeli detention. The bodies of 360 Palestinians Israel is holding will also be returned.
The Independent’s chief international correspondent Bel Trew reports:
Palestinian Authority President Abbas to attend summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Axios reports
Sunday 12 October 2025 18:36
,
Tara Cobham
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will attend a summit to finalise an agreement aimed at ending the war in Gaza, an Axios reporter said on X on Sunday, citing a senior Palestinian official.
The summit, which will be attended by US President Donald Trump, will be held in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday.
In pictures: Palestinians rally as aid arrives in Gaza on Sunday
Sunday 12 October 2025 18:00
,
Alex Croft
Hamas rejects BBC reports regarding recall of 7,000 fighters
Sunday 12 October 2025 17:00
,
Alex Croft
Hamas has rejected claims by the BBC that it has recalled 7,000 fighters which have been deployed in the streets to regain control of the parts of Gaza which the Israeli military has withdrawn from.
The BBC reported that the militant group has recalled the members of its security forces in a bid to reassert control over areas of the Strip that Israeli troops have recently left, citing local sources.
It said five new governors with military backgrounds were appointed.
In a statement, Gaza’s Government Media Office described the claims as “false and baseless” and said they “reflect deliberate misinformation and false narratives intended to mislead the public”.
The office demanded that international media refer to official authorities in Gaza before publishing “such unverified allegations”.
Netanyahu spokesperson defends Israeli PM after poor reception at hostages square
Sunday 12 October 2025 16:01
,
Alex Croft
A spokesperson for Benjamin Netanyahu has defended the Israeli prime minister after his name was booed when mentioned by US envoy Steve Witkoff in hostages square on Saturday evening.
” Prime Minister Netanyahu has gotten us to this point. In cooperation, coordination with President Trump,” said Shosh Bedrosian.
“This is why we are here today waiting for our hostages to return home through military, through diplomatic pressure. Prime Minister Netanyahu took risks and those risks led us to this point.
“The first phase of this plan is releasing all of our hostages, and that was a dedication and a promise he made to those families.
“And here I am standing today telling you that the Prime Minister is following through. Following through on that promise.”
She had earlier said he is on the “brink of fulfilling a moral, human and Jewish obligation of bringing the innocent hostages back home”.
Watch: Nadine Dorries praises Donald Trump for Gaza peace deal
Sunday 12 October 2025 15:00
,
Alex Croft
Starmer to fly to Egypt for summit to mark Gaza peace plan
Sunday 12 October 2025 14:45
,
Alex Croft
Sir Keir Starmer will fly to an international peace summit in Egypt as part of efforts to secure the fragile ceasefire agreed in Gaza.
The Prime Minister is expected to pay “particular tribute” to Donald Trump, who is also reportedly due to attend the gathering, and the diplomatic work of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, Downing Street said.
A “signing ceremony” for the Gaza peace plan will take place at the event to mark a turning point for the Middle East after the two-year war, No 10 said.
The US president’s 20-point plan calls for Israel to maintain an open-ended military presence inside Gaza, along its border with Israel.
Read the full report here:
Phillipson refuses to say whether Tony Blair consulted Starmer before accepting 'Board of Peace' role
Sunday 12 October 2025 14:28
,
Alex Croft
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Bridget Phillipson has refused to say whether or not Tony Blair consulted the prime minister before agreeing to take a role on the "board of peace".
Under Donald Trump's plan for peace, Sir Tony would form part of an international supervisory body that would govern Gaza.
Asked whether the former prime minister consulted Sir Keir Starmer before accepting the role, Ms Phillipson told Sky News: "I'm afraid I simply can't answer that question. What I do know is that what happens in the next phase of the peace process that needs to take place will be a matter for the American and the Israelis and for others."
Palestinian prisoners and detainees to be released once hostages cross border - Israeli spokeswoman
Sunday 12 October 2025 13:57
,
Alex Croft
Palestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released as soon as Israel has confirmation that all the hostages set to be released tomorrow are across the border into Israel, an Israeli spokeswoman said.
Spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian did not confirm whether she was referring to the 20 living hostages, or the 48 in total including those who have died.
But based on answers to other questions, and given reports that not all of the 28 deceased hostages have been located in Gaza, it appears she was referring to the living hostages.
Palestinian prisoners and detainees will already be in the buses when the hostages are due to cross into Israeli territory, she said.
“Once the confirmation comes through that they have crossed into Israeli territory, those buses will start and they will begin their journey [into Gaza],”she said.
International committee will help find bodies of dead hostages - Israeli spokeswoman
Sunday 12 October 2025 13:49
,
Alex Croft
Our chief international correspondent Bel Trew has put a question to Israeli spokeswoman, Shosh Bedrosian.
She asked whether a failure by Hamas to hand over the bodies of all the dead hostages before the deadline tomorrow morning would constitute a violation of the deal, in Israel’s view.
It comes amid reports that Hamas is unsure where some of the bodies of the dead hostages are, with international efforts to locate them set to get underway.
“Israel is committed to this plan that was signed off on, all 48 of our hostages will be returning back to Israel,” whether they are alive or deceased,” Bedrosian said.
She then appeared to suggest that Israel would not treat it as a violation of the ceasefire.
“There is this international committee that will be finding and helping locate hostages bodies if they are not released tomorrow,” she said.
Hostage release to begin early Monday morning, Israel PM spokeswoman says
Sunday 12 October 2025 13:38
,
Alex Croft
We’re hearing from Benjamin Netanyahu's spokeswoman, Shosh Bedrosian.
She says the hostage release will take place early Monday morning.
“Israel is prepared and is ready to immediately receive all of our hostages. The release of our hostages will begin early Monday morning.
“We are expecting all 20 of our living hostages to be released together at one time to the Red Cross and transported among six to eight vehicles without any sick displays by Hamas,” she added, referring to previous handovers which were publicised by Hamas.
It brings clarity following growing speculation over the timing of their release, after US vice president JD Vance said on Sunday it would take place “any moment now”.
Netanyahu: Israel 'ready to immediately received hostages'
Sunday 12 October 2025 13:32
,
Alex Croft
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel is “prepared and ready to immediately receive all of our hostages”.
Netanyahu has just spoken with the Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing Brigadier-General Gal Hirsch, according to his office.
Starmer has 'played no role whatsoever in brokering this very fragile peace', claims Priti Patel
Sunday 12 October 2025 13:23
,
Alex Croft
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel questioned why Sir Keir Starmer is going to Egypt, claiming "he's played no role whatsoever in even brokering this very fragile peace".
She told Times Radio: "I do question what Keir Starmer will be doing going to Egypt because he's played no role whatsoever in even brokering this very fragile peace, even getting us to this stage.
"And quite frankly his approach to foreign policy for the Middle East has clearly been dictated to by his backbenchers and their demands for a two-state solution without any pragmatic detailed work behind that at all."
Vance: Hostages will be released 'any moment now'
Sunday 12 October 2025 13:20
,
Alex Croft
US vice president JD Vance has said Israeli hostages are set to be released from Gaza “any moment now”.
It was initially indicated that tomorrow morning was the most likely time for the release, but it now appears that they could be freed earlier than expected.
Vance also said the US did not plan on putting any troops on the ground in Israel or Gaza., despite reports it is set to send 200 soldiers to monitor the ceasefire.
More than 150 deaths recorded in Gaza in past day, bringing total above 67,600
Sunday 12 October 2025 12:59
,
Alex Croft
A total of 151 dead bodies have arrived at hospitals in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
At least 116 of these were recovered from the rubble, as rescuers sift through areas which were previously hard to reach due to Israeli invasion and bombardment.
Another 72 people with injuries arrived in the hospitals.
A number of victims remain under the rubble the ministry added, with ambulance and civil defence teams as yet unable to reach them.
It brings the total toll of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza to 67,682.
Analysis: Iran is out in the cold as the Mideast unites in support of the Gaza ceasefire
Sunday 12 October 2025 12:30
,
Alex Croft
Analysis brought by The Associated Press’ Gulf and Iran news director, Jon Gambrell:
As the Middle East broadly welcomes a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Iran finds itself at one of its weakest moments since its 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Tehran has operated its self-described "Axis of Resistance" over several decades, supporting militant groups and nations allied with it against Israel and the United States. But as Israel bombed the Gaza Strip, it also turned its crosshairs toward top leaders abroad in militant groups like Hamas, Lebanon's Hezbollah and even the top echelon within Iran's military and nuclear program — killing many and disrupting their ability to fight back.
As President Donald Trump prepares for a Middle East trip that likely will see him praised by Israel and Arab nations, Iran won't be at the table as it still struggles to recover from June's 12-day war.
How Tehran's theocracy responds in the weeks and months ahead, whether that means lashing out or trying to rebuild its hobbled economy at home, will be crucial.
"Undoubtedly this is a not a proud moment for Iran," said Ali Vaez, the Iran project director at the International Crisis Group. "Its alliance system in the region is in ruins but it doesn't mean that the 'Axis of Resistance' is no more."
‘Everything is wiped out’: The bleak reality for Palestinians returning home in Gaza
Sunday 12 October 2025 12:01
,
Alex Croft
Stretching out to the horizon in front of Palestinian father of two Said is a breathtaking level of destruction few can imagine. The apartment buildings in this north Gaza city are so eviscerated that they have been reduced to dust. It is hard to even call it rubble – it looks like ash.
“This is the location of our home. Nothing is visible,” Said says, pointing to an indiscernible mountain of grey, with a deadness in his voice. “Wiped out. Evaporated. It is as if there were never a house here at all.”
As soon as the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect at noon Friday, Said, 34, was among the first to take the deadly risk of marching north to find his home. Displaced countless times since the start of Israel’s two-year bombardment and siege on Gaza, he had hoped to at least recover some precious items, like photos, from his home.
Nedal Hamdouna and Bel Trew report:
UK played a 'key role behind the scenes' in securing Middle East ceasefire, says minister
Sunday 12 October 2025 11:29
,
Alex Croft
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
The UK played a "key role" behind the scenes in securing a ceasefire in the Middle East, Bridget Phillipson has said.
"The prime minister's presence in Egypt tomorrow demonstrates the key role that we have played in moving towards the peace settlement that's now in place. We all hope that the ceasefire will hold.
"We all hope that in the next few hours, we will see the release of hostages who've been held for an unconscionably long period of time, and that through this process, we move to the next phase, where Gaza can be rebuilt, where humanitarian aid gets in, and we move to that enduring and lasting peace, where the Palestinian people can have their own state and live in peace alongside a safe and secure Israel", she told Sky News.
Pressed on what exactly that role was, Ms Phillipson said: "We have played a key role behind the scenes in shaping this. It's right that we do so, because it's in all of our interests, including our own national interest, that we move to a lasting peace in the region."
She added: "These are complex matters of diplomacy that we are involved in, but we do welcome and recognise the critical role that the American government played in leading us to this point. What matters now, of course, is how we move beyond this immediate end to the war, moving towards that lasting peace that we all want to see."
