Trump says there is ‘consensus’ on next steps in Gaza ceasefire plan: Latest

Police said the arrests were made after clashes between pro-Palestinian protesters and counter-protesters.

Thousands of protesters have descended on central London to campaign against the Israeli occupation and apartheid, organizers said on social media.

Police said there were also several counter-protesters in the area.

The Metropolitan Police said in a post on Twitter: “A small group of protesters breached the terms of the Palestine Coalition protest by demonstrating at the Form Up point.

“This led to a scuffle between several individuals from both groups. Officers immediately arrived at the scene to separate those involved and made a small number of arrests.”

Civilian authorities in the Gaza Strip have said that around 9,500 Palestinians are currently believed to be missing, Wafa news agency reports.

This happened as rescue teams began sifting through debris in areas of the Strip that were difficult to access due to the Israeli invasion and bombardment of the Strip.

Doctors on the ground said more than 110 bodies had been recovered from the debris since the ceasefire took effect on Friday morning.

The scene in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Thursday afternoon was one of nervous relief rather than joy. There had been too many false mornings for anyone to start unbridled celebrations.

When I dropped the giant digital clock recorded 733 days, 11 hours and 47 minutes since the 251 hostages were snatched in October 2023. Journalists scanned their mobiles for updates; Merchandise stalls were doing good business selling mortgage T-shirts, coffee cups and keyrings. Two women took turns holding a giant sign that read: “We love Trump. He who saves just one life saves the whole world.” Well, maybe.

I wound my way through the “Tunnel Experience” – an art installation that claims to simulate the underground experience of hostages – and stopped to see a group of relatives quietly dancing and singing. Omer Shem Tov, a former hostage, cautioned the crowd against having too much hope. “With all that happiness, I have to say: It’s not over yet.”

Police have taken measures to prevent clashes between pro-Palestinian protesters and counter-protesters in London, a day after the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas came into force.

Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters are expected to gather for a march and speeches in central London on Saturday, as thousands of Palestinians return to their homes in Gaza following the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Meanwhile, Stop the Hate has organized a counter-protest at the junction of Aldwych and the Strand, police said.

It said Scotland Yard had imposed conditions under the Public Order Act to “prevent serious disruption” during the demonstrations.

Conditions have been imposed on both demonstrations by the force, stipulating specific areas where protesters can gather as well as a march route.

According to organizer Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), the pro-Palestine protests will be the 32nd national demonstration in support of Palestine from October 2023, and will culminate with a rally in Whitehall with protesters marching along the Embankment.

The Metropolitan Police repeatedly referenced recent government proposals to give police more powers to restrict protests, but said that “at this time, the law remains unchanged”.

The measures, announced last weekend, follow continued pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including in London last Saturday.

Nearly 500 people were arrested in last week’s protests, most of them on suspicion of supporting the banned terrorist organization Palestine Action.

There were calls for restraint following a terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester on 2 October that left two people dead, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urging protesters to “respect the grief of British Jews”.

The ceasefire – which US President Donald Trump praised as “a strong, durable and everlasting peace” – leaves many questions unresolved.

Israel wants Hamas to disarm, while Hamas is demanding Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza.

The form of post-war governance for Gaza also remains uncertain, with Trump’s plan proposing an Arab-led international security force and a governing council led by Palestinian technocrats.

Israelis have welcomed the release agreement as a long-awaited breakthrough, while Palestinians in Gaza have greeted the pause with relief and skepticism – unsure how long it will last, and whether their shattered territory will ever be rebuilt.

Now much depends on continued diplomatic pressure. Analysts warn that without it, any misstep could lead Israel to resume its campaign to destroy Hamas, plunging Gaza back into war.

Talking to an Israeli official The Independent’s Chief International Correspondent Bel True.

He gave an update on the hostage release schedule and the search for the dead hostages.

Here’s what the officer said:

World leaders, diplomatic insiders and much of the media are celebrating the ceasefire in Gaza, calling it a “peace deal” and supporting President Donald Trump’s now unsuccessful campaign for the Nobel Peace Prize.

US Secretary of State Mark Rubio praised his boss, saying that the turning point came when Trump called meetings with Arab and Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

“The President had some extraordinary phone calls and meetings that required a high level of intensity and commitment, and that happened,” Rubio said.

As the agreement unfolded, Trump pointed out that it was his conversation with Netanyahu when he told him, “You can’t fight the world, Bibi”, which also played a role.

Our world affairs editor Sam Kiely reports:

Despite an agreed ceasefire in November 2024, Israel has carried out fresh airstrikes on Lebanon, killing at least one person.

Earlier this month, UN human rights chief Volker Turk called for renewed efforts to permanently end hostilities in post-war Lebanon.

He said that as of the end of September, they had confirmed 103 civilians killed in Lebanon since the ceasefire.

According to the World Bank, the most recent Israel-Hezbollah war killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians, and caused an estimated $11 billion in destruction. 127 people including 80 soldiers died in Israel.