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What to know about the Israel-Hamas truce and hostage release plan
With a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip apparently in effect and large numbers of Palestinians moving north as the Israeli army retreated Friday, significant questions lingered over what was next for President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for peace.
Trump has said that he plans to travel to Egypt for an official signing ceremony for the ceasefire agreement and that he has also been invited to address the Israeli parliament, or Knesset.
Here’s what we know, and don’t know, about what comes next.
Thousands return to Gaza City, where many homes are in ruins
Tens of thousands of people have returned to Gaza City since yesterday to see what has become of their homes.
Among them is 32-year-old Mahmoud Qandil, who is now homeless along with his wife and three children after finding his home completely destroyed.
“We were so happy to return to Gaza City, but the massive destruction I saw was both shocking and heartbreaking,” Qandil told NBC News.
Standing near what once was his home, now buried under rubble, he gathered pieces of wood and plastic sheets to build a small tent in a nearby schoolyard to shelter his family.
U.K. Prime Minister Starmer will attend Gaza deal ceremony
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer will travel to Egypt for a peace conference and will attend the signing ceremony of the peace plan for Gaza, 10 Downing Street said in a statement today.
Starmer will travel to Egypt to attend the Sharm El Sheikh Peace Summit on Monday, the government said.
The Gaza deal signing was called “a historic turning point for the region after two years of conflict and bloodshed.”
“The Prime Minister will pay particular tribute to the leadership of President Trump and the diplomatic efforts of Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye in bringing us to this point,” the statement said.
“He will then call for continued international coordination to secure swift progress towards Phase 2 of the plan, which includes the decommissioning of Hamas, the deployment of a ceasefire monitoring mission, an International Security Force and the implementation of transitional governance arrangements in Gaza,” it said.
“He will offer the UK’s steadfast support and engagement with international partners as we look to secure the ceasefire, get urgently needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza and secure a basis for a lasting peace and security.”
Photos: Palestinians travel north in the Gaza Strip as ceasefire takes hold
Crowds and vehicles filled a coastal road today as displaced Palestinians traveled north in the Gaza Strip, taking advantage of the ceasefire to return to their homes.
Dozens of bodies taken to hospitals in Gaza, says health ministry
At least 125 bodies were transferred to hospitals in the Gaza Strip today, many of them recovered from under rubble, and one person who was shot by Israeli forces in Khan Younis, Dr. Khalil Al-Daqran, a spokesperson for Gaza’s Ministry of Health, told NBC News.
Old City packed with people as groups gathered for prayer
The Old City of East Jerusalem was packed with people earlier today, as groups of tourists strolled around the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the cafes in the Christian Quarter.
Shops around the Old City were also lively as Jews gathered for Shabbat prayers, while Greek Orthodox Christians led their usual procession.
Photos: Crowds show support for Trump
Trump's name drew a chorus of applause tonight as Witkoff, Kushner and Ivanka Trump each praised the his role in securing a ceasefire.
Former IDF general doubts second phase of ceasefire plan will happen
A former top Israeli security official expressed doubts that the ceasefire plan will proceed to its “second phase” but said it “is probably the best possible deal” Israel can secure right now.
“If this [first] phase is implemented successfully, then we might be able to say that at the end of the day we achieved something good,” Giora Eiland, a former IDF general who attends regular briefings with security officials, told NBC News. “But I don’t think it is going to happen, this second phase.”
The first phase of the Trump-negotiated ceasefire plan is set to end Monday at noon, with Hamas' complete surrender of about 48 living and dead hostages and the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Longer-term agreements in the so-called second phase — such as Hamas’ potential disarmament, Gaza’s future governance and interim security responsibilities — have been left to future negotiations.
Eiland said none of Israel’s regional partner countries that are set to provide security in Gaza as part of the “international stabilization force” laid out in Trump’s 20-point plan have "any interest that the second phase will be implemented.”
Eiland described Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, which, along with the United Arab Emirates are set to comprise the new force, as “the main sponsors of Hamas for the last dozens of years.”
Qatar has supported Hamas financially and hosts some of its top leaders — both with the knowledge of the Israeli government. Turkey’s government has vocally supported Hamas, but in Egypt, the group is strictly proscribed.
If the stabilization force fails, Hamas will be free to reconstitute itself, Eiland warned.
“It’s not even a permanent ceasefire. It’s actually a very broken, fragile, temporary ceasefire,” he said. “I don’t know if it will hold for a long period. And I’m not sure it will bring tomorrow more stability to the region.”
Kushner and Ivanka Trump call for lasting peace in Middle East
Witkoff handed the microphone to Kushner, who said he "couldn't be prouder to be a friend of Israel."
An emotional Kushner called for lasting peace in the Middle East and thanked the crowd for their efforts to bring the hostages home.
He handed the microphone to his wife, Ivanka, who drew huge cheers upon mentioning her father's name.
“God bless you all for standing in solidarity together through this dark chapter,” she said.
Witkoff, Kushner and Ivanka Trump then departed the stage to the sound of cheers thanking Donald Trump.
'You are coming home,' Witkoff tells hostages
Steve Witkoff finished his speech with a clear message to the hostages remaining in Gaza.
"You are coming home," he shouted.
Witkoff also expressed a debt of deep gratitude to President Donald Trump, whose name drew cheers once again.
