Gaza, Egypt: negotiations begin Monday in Sharm el-Sheik. Netanyahu: we are on the verge of a great achievement, Hamas will be dismantled

"The US and Israel will limit negotiations to a few days. Then Hamas will be dismantled, militarily or politically. Hamas was forced to accept the Trump plan'. This was stated by Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu

Israel provides support to a Palestinian rebel group in Gaza with extremist ties and a history of looting humanitarian aid trucks, living in luxury thanks to supplies from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and smuggling money, cars and cigarettes. This was revealed by a Sky News investigation, pointing out that 'while negotiators argue over who will govern Gaza after the war ends, Israel is already outlining a new reality on the ground'. In recent weeks, several tribal militias have declared allegiance to Yasser Abu Shabab, the leader of a former looting gang that now calls itself the 'Popular Forces', which is proposing itself as the future government of Gaza.

Sky's Data and Forensics Unit has been tracking Yasser Abu Shabab and his men for months, tracing their movements, vehicles, weapons and identities: the investigation found that his militia receives food from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, despite the declared impartiality of the US-funded humanitarian organisation. And in exclusive interviews with Sky News, one of Yasser Abu Shabab's senior commanders and an IDF soldier serving on the Gaza border detailed how Israel allows them to smuggle money, weapons and cars into Gaza. According to the experts, Israel's support for such groups aims at 'divide and rule' in an anti-Hamas perspective, and to ensure the maintenance of a certain level of control over Gaza, whatever its future may be.

"We are on the verge of achieving a great result. I hope to be able to announce the release of all our hostages, in one fell swoop." Benyamin Netanyahu said this in a statement to the media recorded in Hebrew.

"Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are coming to conclude the matter. They are not coming to play games. They are not willing to negotiate any clause' on the hostages. This was said by the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview with the Israeli Channel 12.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry confirmed that talks on an agreement to release the hostages and end the war in Gaza will begin on Monday. "As part of ongoing Egyptian efforts in coordination with mediators to end the war in the Strip, Egypt will host two delegations from Israel and Hamas on 6 October to discuss the terms and details of the exchange of all Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees, in accordance with President Trump's proposal." The talks will open in Sharm el-Sheik.

Donald Trump said in an interview with Axios that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was "very helpful" in convincing Hamas to proceed with the release of the hostages. "Erdogan helped a lot. He's a tough guy, but he's a friend of mine and he was great,' the tycoon said. A US official told Axios that Trump had spoken to Erdogan on Friday, before Hamas' response, asking him to make sure Hamas did not say no. "President Trump told Erdogan, 'I have done a lot for you, and now I need you to do this,'" the US official recounted.

In an exclusive interview with Channel 12, Donald Trump reportedly told the Israeli PM: 'Bibi, this is your chance to win'. The US president expressed optimism about the possibility of reaching an agreement to free the hostages and end the war. "We are close to an agreement. Bibi is in favour, Hamas has taken a big step, they want to conclude it." Regarding the phone call with Netanyahu, Trump said, "He agreed. With me you have to agree."

The IDF is preparing to dismiss tens of thousands of reservists following progress in negotiations to end the war in Gaza. This is reported by the Israeli media, according to which most of the soldiers who will be discharged are currently participating in the fighting in the Strip. In the army, they explain that, in parallel, defence measures at military posts in Gaza have been reinforced, also to prevent any attempts by Hamas to kidnap soldiers.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stated in an interview with Channel 12 that the Trump plan "was not imposed on Israel, but is largely an Israeli initiative". He added that "this process has been building for at least two months, and the whole structure of what is called the 'day after' has been built into this plan. It is a very powerful lever that not only was not imposed on us, but is something in whose definition we actively participated'.

PM Benyamin Netanyahu summoned Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for a meeting after the end of Shabbat this evening following Hamas' response to the Trump plan.

At least 15 Palestinians were killed, most of them children and women, and dozens were injured in an Israeli attack on the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood in Gaza City. Another 20 are reported missing under the rubble after Israeli planes bombed a house. Wafa reports this, citing medical sources. The director of Shifa Hospital, Mohamed Abu Selmiyah, told the Associated Press that Israeli attacks have killed Palestinians throughout Gaza City, while the shelling has "significantly subsided".

"I appreciate the fact that Israel has temporarily stopped the bombing to give the hostages' release and the peace agreement a chance to be completed. Hamas must act quickly, otherwise everything will be undone. I will not tolerate delays, which many believe will occur, or any outcome that would cause Gaza to pose a threat again'. US President Donald Trump wrote this on the social truth. "Let's do it, quickly. will be treated fairly!" the White House leader added, again referring to the agreement.

"Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel to Egypt today to finalise the technical details of the hostages' release and discuss the lasting peace agreement," a White House official told Axios reporter Barak Ravid, reporting this on X.

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, in a letter to the diocese emphasises that 'for the first time the news finally speaks of a possible new positive page, of the liberation of the Israeli hostages, of some Palestinian prisoners and the cessation of the bombing and military offensive. This is an important and long-awaited first step'. "We do not know if this war will really end" and "the end of the war does not necessarily mark the beginning of peace. But it is the first indispensable step to start building it'.

The charter plane carrying Global Sumud Flotilla activists, including 26 Italians, expelled from Israel has landed at Istanbul airport. This was written by the Anadolu Agency. The plane, which left from Eilat's Ramon airport in Israel, arrived in Turkey at 3.50pm local time (2.50pm Italian time). On board were 137 people from the flotilla, including 36 Turkish citizens and 23 Malaysians. The activists were welcomed by officials and others at the airport. Also on board the plane were citizens of the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Morocco, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Switzerland, Tunisia and Jordan.

Israel announced the expulsion of 137 more activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza. They are also heading to Turkey.

The Health Minister of Hamas-controlled Gaza reported that the death toll since the beginning of the war has exceeded 67,000 after 66 people died in the last 24 hours. Israeli and Arab media reported this. The tally has thus risen to 67,074 dead and 169,430 wounded.

At least 20 Palestinians have been killed since dawn in the Gaza Strip. This was reported by al-Jazeera satellite TV, which cites sources from hospitals in the Palestinian enclave, which fell into the hands of Hamas in 2007, denouncing the continuation of Israeli military operations launched in response to the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel.

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel in the next few hours to Egypt where the first round of negotiations between Israel and Hamas on the details of US President Donald Trump's peace plan is expected to take place tomorrow. This is according to Israeli media reports.

Turkey announced that 36 of its citizens are expected to return home this afternoon on board a special flight, following the boarding by Israeli forces of the international humanitarian flotilla for Gaza.

"We expect 36 of our compatriots, who were on board the vessels of the 'Global Sumud Flotilla' intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, to return to our country this afternoon on board a special flight," Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keçeli told X.

The first round of talks between Israel and Hamas will begin tomorrow in Egypt, after the movement responded to Donald Trump's plan to end the conflict in Gaza by accepting the release of hostages. This was reported by the Israeli broadcaster Channel 12, quoted by the Times of Israel, pointing out that the most likely venue for the negotiations will be Sharm el Sheikh.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly convened emergency consultations in the night after Hamas' response to the Trump plan to 'end the conflict in Gaza'. This was reported by the Israeli news site Ynet, according to which the top defence minister, Israel Katz, and the Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, were in the chair, but far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir were not invited. According to sources in Netanyahu's entourage cited in recent hours by Channel 12, the premier would not assess Hamas's response to the Trump plan positively and was surprised by the tycoon's reaction. "They mostly see it as a negative response," emerges the Times of Israel's Times of Israel reports, "But they go ahead by going along with the Trump pledge because they have no other option.

Egypt will host the Palestinian conference on the future of Gaza. This is according to a Hamas official. Egypt will host an 'intra-Palestinian dialogue on Palestinian unity and the future of Gaza, including the administration of the Gaza Strip', the official told Afp.

Israeli forces, "the IDF continue to encircle Gaza City" and "attempting" to return there "is very dangerous". This was stated by IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee in a message to Gazawians, adding that the area north of Wadi Gaza is still considered a "dangerous combat zone" and "remaining in this area is a great risk". The Al-Rashid Road, a coastal road, remains open for travel to the south of the Palestinian enclave, the message specified. "For your safety, avoid returning north or approaching areas of operation" of the IDF in the Gaza Strip, including in the south," the Israeli forces added.

"A first group of 26 Italian citizens who were on the Flotilla is about to leave Israel by charter. We put them on a Turkish flight to Istanbul. They have already been transferred to the Ramon air base and will depart from Eilat airport". Thus on X Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. "The other 15 Italians have not signed the voluntary release form and will have to wait for the expulsion by the courts, which will take place next week," he added. "I have once again given instructions to the Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv to ensure that the remaining compatriots are treated with respect for their rights.

The leading Israeli group representing the families of hostages held in Gaza said it was "essential" to end the war immediately as Israel bombed the territory despite US President Donald Trump calling for an end to it. "President Trump's call for an immediate end to the war is essential to prevent serious and irreversible harm to the hostages," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a note. "We call on Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu to immediately start efficient and swift negotiations to bring all our hostages home," it added.

Israel is preparing for the possibility of an early start to negotiations on Donald Trump's proposed plan 'to end the conflict in Gaza'. This is written by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, according to which, meanwhile, Israeli security officials have begun to assess which Palestinian detainees can be included in the list of prisoners that Israel will agree to release in exchange for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip as part of the proposal promoted by the tycoon after his meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli negotiating team was ordered to prepare to send a delegation for talks on the implementation of the Trump plan, Israeli broadcaster Kan also reported, as relayed by the Times of Israel. It is not specified where the negotiations might be held.

von der Leyen, 'EU supports efforts to end civilian suffering, for peace two-state solution'

Brussels, Oct. 4 (Adnkronos) - "The declared willingness of Hamas to release the hostages and to engage on the basis of the recent proposal of the US president is encouraging. This moment must be seized." This was stated in a post on X by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. "An immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages are within reach," she adds, "Europe will support all efforts to end the suffering of civilians and promote the only viable solution for peace, the two-state solution.

Six dead including two children, more than eight wounded, twenty houses destroyed: this is the toll of the bombardment of Gaza last night. Gaza Civil Defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told Afp that the shelling destroyed 20 homes. Gaza City Baptist Hospital said in a statement that it had received casualties from an attack on a home in the Tuffah neighbourhood, including four dead and several wounded. Gaza's Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis said two children were killed and eight people were injured in a drone attack on a tent in a Gaza IDP camp.

The Gaza Civil Defence Agency said Israel overnight carried out dozens of airstrikes and artillery shelling on Gaza City, despite US President Donald Trump's call for an end to the shelling after Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal.

Israeli political leaders have ordered the army to halt its campaign to take Gaza after US President Donald Trump called on Israel to cease attacks on Gaza, pushing for an end to the war and the release of hostages held by Hamas. The Times of Israel reports this, citing reports from Army Radio and public broadcaster Kan. Army Radio says the order calls for operations to be kept to a "minimum", with troops on the ground strictly performing defensive manoeuvres, and was issued after overnight talks between Israeli and US officials. Kan, meanwhile, says that negotiations on Trump's plan are expected to take place soon.

"It's a great day, a special day, perhaps unprecedented in many ways." This was said by US President Donald Trump in a video message posted on Truth commenting on Hamas' response to its peace plan for Gaza. "We received tremendous help. Everyone has been united in wanting to end this war and to see peace in the Middle East. And we are very close to achieving this," he added.

"Everyone will be treated equally," Trump continued. The US president ordered Israel to cease attacks on Gaza after Hamas' openings.

Hamas' conditional yes to Trump plan on ending the war in Gaza. The Islamic faction has officially announced that it is ready to release "all Israeli hostages" still in its hands, as per the US plan, but calls for 'further discussions and negotiations' on the US proposal and offers itself for a future role, which is excluded by all. Netanyahu's office says Israel is preparing to implement the first phase of the plan. "We will continue to work in full cooperation with the president and his staff to end the war in accordance with Israel's established principles that are consistent with President Trump's vision," Tel Aviv says. During the night there was a 'special meeting' of the IDF military leadership. According to media reports, the army was given political orders to reduce the offensive on Gaza 'to a minimum', limiting it to 'defensive manoeuvres'.