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International agencies were preparing Saturday to pour aid into Gaza, hopeful a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will allow them to put an end to the famine haunting parts of the territory.But optimism was marked with caution.The fragile truce could open access, but aid agencies fear Israel may continue to impose restrictions on access under US President Donald Trump's plan.Logistical hurdles are far from the mind of displaced father Marwan al-Madhun.The 34-year-old just wants to know when the trucks will arrive."My children are mainly happy to know that meat and chicken will arrive at last," he told AFP in central Gaza, as tens of thousands of Palestinians started to walk back to homes destroyed during fighting in the north."It's been two years that they've been deprived," he said. "At last, the crossing points will open!"On August 22, the United Nations declared a famine in Gaza, the first in the Middle East, after experts warned 500,000 people faced a "catastrophic" threat.Israel has accused Hamas of manufacturing a crisis and stealing aid.Now, the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs says Israel has approved delivery of 170,000 tonnes of aid under a response plan for the first 60 days of truce."The most basic necessities are still urgently needed in Gaza: medical equipment, medicines, food, water, fuel, and adequate shelter for two million people who will face the approaching winter without a roof over their heads," said Jacob Granger, Gaza coordinator for Doctors Without Borders.Representatives of Granger's organisation, the World Food Programme and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said they were ready to step up shipments, but much remains unclear."The difficulty we have now is questions of access," said Antoine Renard, WFP director in the Palestinian territories, speaking from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza.The WFP, which leads the group of organisations handling food security, has begun discussions with COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry agency for civilian affairs in the territories.On Friday, empty WFP trucks were seen leaving Khan Yunis in southern Gaza and heading to the Kerem Shalom crossing to be loaded with food aid for distribution inside Gaza.The Trump plan foresees a return to the UN-led aid system in place before January 2025, when Israel sealed Gaza's borders and a private US-led operation took over aid distribution."But the conditions on the ground are different," Renard said.Since Israel's latest offensive into the cities in the north of Gaza last month, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been driven from the homes -- many of which were destroyed -- into central and southern Gaza.This has shifted pressure for food aid into a now overcrowded area whose original residents were already struggling.The Trump plan states "full aid will be immediately sent to the Gaza Strip" as soon as the agreement comes into effect, "without interference from either party."Several humanitarian sources expressed optimism, despite concerns about security and registration procedures, on which Israel has yet to provide guidance."We are pushing different embassies and donors to speak to the Israeli authorities on their end, because we need, for example, trucks that can make round trips to the distribution platforms without facing constraints on the Israeli side," an official from a medical agency told AFP.Since spring, most of the aid on which Palestinian civilians depend has been supplied by the private Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.The UN Human Rights Office says GHF operations -- supported by the United States and Israel -- have seen 1,000 people killed near distribution sites.Several aid officials told AFP they were not involved in planning for the ceasefire."We don't have a lot of visibility on what exactly has been agreed on yet, but we will do everything we can," said Shaina Low, NRC spokeswoman."Humanitarian aid should never be subject to negotiation -- it's a fundamental right for people in need," she argued."The fact that it's tied to a ceasefire deal is problematic, as it should not be used as a bargaining chip -- just as the hostages never should have been."

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani received a phone call Friday from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. During the call, they discussed developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories in light of the agreement on provisions and mechanisms for implementing the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and means to ensure its full implementation.HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that the success of the first phase of the agreement is a collective responsibility to ensure its implementation and achieve peace and stability in the region. He also affirmed that Qatar will spare no effort in fulfilling its humanitarian, historical, and diplomatic duty towards the Palestinians.For his part, the UN Secretary-General appreciated the pivotal diplomatic role played by Qatar in facilitating the negotiations and its tireless efforts that contributed to reaching the agreement.

Mixed emotions as Gazans cheer US-brokered truce deal but face wreckage of pre-war lives'Okay, it is over - then what? There is no home I can go back to,' says displaced mother of five'We are happy just to return to where our homes were. That, too, is a great joy,' says displaced Gaza manAs thousands of Gazans began picking through the ruins of their shattered homes on Friday after a ceasefire deal, the excitement of return was quickly tempered by shock at the depth of the destruction and anxiety over the hardships ahead.The announcement that the US-brokered accord had gone into effect sent thousands of Palestinians pouring up the Gaza Strip's coastal road by foot, bicycle, truck and donkey cart toward the largely devastated north.Essentially all of Gaza's 2.2 million population was displaced during two years of unrelenting war that has killed tens of thousands of people and reduced huge swathes of the enclave to ruins.For some, the prospect of returning even to the remnants of their former houses was enough to inspire elation."Of course, there are no homes - they've been destroyed - but we are happy just to return to where our homes were, even over the rubble," Mahdi Saqla, 40, said as he stood by a makeshift tent in central Gaza. "That, too, is a great joy."Trudging along the road along with her family, former Gaza City resident Mahira al-Ashi said she was so excited to return to the city where she'd grown up that she couldn't sleep as she waited for news about when they could start moving."By God, when they opened the road, I was so happy to go back," she said.But for many of those who have already returned, the stark reality of the situation quickly sank in.To the south, in the city of Khan Younis, Ahmed al-Brim pushed a bicycle loaded with wood through a scene of apocalyptic destruction - row after row of buildings crumpled by bombardment and streets strewn with rubble."We went to our area - it was exterminated," he said, waving a hand through the air. "We don't know where we will go after that."Another Khan Younis resident, Muhannad al-Shawaf, said it used to take him three minutes to reach a nearby street from his house. Now, took over an hour as he picked his way through piles of debris."The destruction is huge and indescribable - indescribable," he said. "It is almost all in ruins and not suitable for living in."Despite the widespread celebrations that greeted news of the ceasefire, many Palestinians were keenly aware even before going back that little remained of the lives they knew before the war."Okay, it is over - then what? There is no home I can go back to," Balqees, a mother of five from Gaza City who has been sheltering in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, told Reuters on Friday morning."They have destroyed everything. Tens of thousands of people are dead, the Gaza Strip is in ruins, and they made a ceasefire. Am I supposed to be happy? No, I am not."Her sentiments were echoed by Mustafa Ibrahim, an activist and human rights advocate from Gaza City who also took refuge in Deir al-Balah, one of the few areas in the enclave not overrun and levelled by Israeli forces."Laughter has vanished and tears have run dry," he said. "The people of Gaza are lost, as if they are the walking dead, searching for a distant future."Some former Gaza City residents had already started heading back even before the ceasefire went into effect, some making it as far as the northwest suburb of Sheikh Radwan.Among them was Ismail Zayda, a 40-year-old father of three, who went to check on his house on Friday morning and was amazed to find it still intact - albeit amid a "sea of rubble"."Thank God, my house is still standing," he told Reuters in a voice note. "But the area is destroyed, my neighbours' houses are destroyed - entire districts are gone."

Kuwait on Thursday welcomed the agreement reached to implement the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan, which includes a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the launch of serious negotiations aimed at ending the war and alleviating the worsening humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people in the Strip. In a statement, Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed Kuwait’s full support for all international efforts and initiatives aimed at consolidating the ceasefire and delivering humanitarian aid immediately, safely, and sustainably, as a step toward establishing security and stability in the region. The ministry also reiterated its appreciation for the positive role played by Qatar, Egypt, the United States, and Turkiye in making the agreement a success. The ministry reaffirmed Kuwait’s firm and longstanding support for the rights of the Palestinian people, particularly the establishment of an independent state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the New York Statement on the two-state solution. The ministry stressed that achieving a just and comprehensive peace is the only path to ensuring lasting security and stability in the region.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) welcomed the agreement reached regarding the Gaza Strip, which aims to implement the first step of US President Donald Trump's initiative to achieve a ceasefire and initiate a process leading to a comprehensive and lasting truce. Secretary General of the GCC Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi praised the significant efforts made by US President Donald Trump and the constructive support provided by the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Republic of Turkiye, to achieve this agreement through a diligent diplomatic path and continuous coordination. Albudaiw stressed that this step represents a new hope for alleviating the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza and paving the way to address the tragic conditions experienced by civilians, particularly concerning the provision of medical and food aid and ensuring the safe and sustainable flow of humanitarian support. GCC Secretary General underscored the necessity for this stage to be the beginning of a clear political path that leads to the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the restoration of security and stability, and the resumption of international efforts aimed at achieving a just and comprehensive solution on the basis of the two-state solution. "This path must also enable the Palestinian people to realise their legitimate rights to establish their independent state on the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and United Nations resolutions," he concluded.

Jordan has welcomed the agreement reached to establish a ceasefire in Gaza, along with the mechanisms for implementing the first phase, which aim to end the war, facilitate a prisoner exchange, ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Strip, and allow for the entry of humanitarian aid. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi praised the significant efforts made by the Arab Republic of Egypt, the State of Qatar, and the United States to help broker the agreement. He also expressed appreciation for the contributions of the Republic of Turkey. Safadi stressed the importance of fully adhering to and implementing the terms of the agreement to end the war and address the catastrophic consequences of the aggression. He also commended US President Donald Trump for his pivotal role in finalizing the agreement, including his proposal to end the war, rebuild Gaza, prevent the displacement of the Palestinian people, and advance a comprehensive peace process. Safadi further welcomed President Trump's announcement that the US would oppose the annexation of the West Bank. The Jordanian foreign minister emphasized the urgent need for coordinated efforts to ensure the immediate and sufficient delivery of humanitarian aid to end the famine facing Gaza. Safadi reaffirmed that Jordan will continue to work alongside its Arab and international partners to achieve a just and comprehensive peace—one that includes an end to the occupation and the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Earlier today, President Trump announced that Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) had signed the first phase of the peace plan, expressing gratitude to the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for their roles in the process.

The UAE has welcomed the announcement by US President Donald Trump on the agreement of a first-phase ceasefire framework in the Gaza Strip, highlighting his important role in supporting the process and urging the parties to reach urgent understandings to halt the tragic conflict and restore peace and stability in the enclave. In a statement today, the Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs commended President Trump's efforts in leading these initiatives and also commended the persistent efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey in facilitating the discussions that led to the agreement. The ministry expressed hope that the agreement would be a positive step towards ending the humanitarian suffering in Gaza and paving the way for a fair and lasting resolution that guarantees the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people while restoring security and stability to the region. It emphasised the importance of building on this progress through all parties' commitment to the agreement's terms, restraint, and a renewed focus on a comprehensive political process leading to a two-state solution, ensuring peace, security, and prosperity for all peoples in the region. Earlier today, US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) had signed the first phase of the peace plan, expressing his gratitude to the mediators from the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Republic of Turkey. (QNA) The UAE reiterated its steadfast support for regional and international efforts to end the escalation, achieve just and comprehensive peace, and ensure the urgent, safe, and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Turkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday welcomed the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. In a post on social media platforms, Erdogan expressed his sincere gratitude to his American counterpart Donald Trump, the State of Qatar, and the Arab Republic of Egypt for demonstrating the necessary political will to encourage Israel to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza. Erdogan said that Turkiye will closely monitor strict implementation of the ceasefire deal, and continue to contribute to the process. Earlier, Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had signed the first phase of the peace plan, expressing his thanks to the mediators from the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Republic of Turkiye.

Oil prices were little changed on Thursday as investors weighed a ceasefire deal in Gaza that could ease geopolitical tensions in the Middle East against stalled peace talks in Ukraine. Brent Crude futures rose 2 cents to $66.27 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude fell 1 cent to $62.54. Prices had gained around 1% on Wednesday to reach a one-week high after investors viewed stalled progress on an Ukraine peace deal as a sign that sanctions against Russia will continue for some time.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday that negotiations to stop the war in Gaza had made "a lot of headway" and that a ceasefire would be declared if they reached a positive outcome.Fidan said the talks in Egypt, in which Ankara is taking part, are focused on securing a ceasefire, exchanging hostages and prisoners, allowing more aid and coordinating a timetable for a withdrawal of Israeli forces.

HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani will join the Gaza negotiations on President Trump’s proposal in Egypt on Wednesday.HE Sheikh Mohammed is traveling to Sharm el-Sheikh to meet with other mediators – including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner – “with the aim of pushing forward the Gaza ceasefire plan and hostage release agreement”, said Dr Majid Mohamed al-Ansari, Advisor to the Prime Minister and the Official Spokesperson.HE Sheikh Mohammed’s “participation confirms the mediators’ determination to reach an agreement that ends the war,” Dr. al-Ansari told Al Jazeera.A Turkish delegation led by intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin will participate in negotiations in Egypt Wednesday aimed at ending the two-year Gaza war, AFP quoted the state-run Anadolu news agency reporting from Istanbul.

Qatar is committed to achieve peace and end the war in Gaza, especially with no let-up in the daily Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people, HE Dr Majid Mohamed al-Ansari, Adviser to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday said.The ongoing indirect negotiations between the Palestinian group Hamas and Israel in Sharm al-Sheikh in Egypt went on for four hours on Monday and continued Tuesday, he said.Highlighting the complexity of the talks, he said US President Donald Trump's peace plan has 20 points, each of which requires detailed consideration.During his weekly briefing, Dr al-Ansari said Qatar is committed to implementing the plan, and deliver the necessary aid immediately to the people in Gaza."But, we want a clear cut plan to guarantee the effective implementation of Trump's peace plan to avoid giving Israel any excuse to renew their attacks. Negotiations are currently focused on identifying the key obstacles hindering the implementation of President Trump's plan."Dr al-Ansari said Qatar, US and Egypt have been leading the mediation for two years now.He noted that all delegations are presently in Sharm El Sheikh, including the Qatari negotiating team.He also pointed out that Egypt is set to organise an international conference for the reconstruction of Gaza after the end of war, and Qatar strongly supports this.Regarding the future of Hamas in Gaza, he said it is still too early to talk about this. "Qatar believes that the future of the Palestinian people have to be in the hands of Palestinian people themselves. It is a Palestinian issue and it concerns them above all. Since day one of the negotiations, we have said that there is a need to unite the Palestinian people."He said the Hamas political office in Doha is needed for the negotiations.Regarding the handover of the Israeli hostages, he reiterated: "I stress that the US has been clear in linking the end of war with the handover of the hostages to Israel."Reuters adds: On the second day of talks in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, top Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya told Egyptian state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV the group had come "to engage in serious and responsible negotiations."He said Hamas was ready to reach a deal, yet it needed a "guarantee" to end the war and ensure "it is not repeated".Senior Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum said a deal must ensure an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.Dr. Al Ansari said Qatar is currently engaged in more than 10 mediation efforts.Regarding the first Russia-Arab summit on October 15 in Moscow, he noted that the relations between the Arab world, Qatar and Russia are very important.He added that "there is an ongoing war in Ukraine and we are committed to achieve peace and help children in both countries to reunite with their families".