In the wake of Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, most of the enclave’s mosques have been reduced to rubble, erasing centuries of spiritual and architectural heritage. Once-standing minarets that called the faithful to prayer now lie shattered, leaving Gaza nearly devoid of its historic skyline. The Gaza Media Office reports that out of 1,244 mosques, more than 835 have been completely destroyed and 180 partially damaged — including Ottoman- and Mamluk-era sites. Among the ruins, survivors like 62-year-old Abu Khaled al-Najjar continue to pray over the debris of their lifelong sanctuaries, refusing to abandon faith despite devastation. In the Old City, young residents like Mahmoud Kandil search the wreckage of the Great Omari Mosque for remnants of their past, while elderly worshippers such as Umm Wael cling to prayer from their homes. Gaza’s faith endures, even as its mosques vanish beneath the dust of war.

Hamas has announced an agreement with Israel aimed at ending more than two years of conflict in Gaza. The deal, based on a U.S. proposal, includes the cessation of hostilities, withdrawal of occupation forces, entry of humanitarian aid, and the exchange of prisoners. A key figure in the talks is Hamas commander Ibrahim Hamed, considered by Israel’s Shin Bet as “Second Yahya Sinwar” and serving a 54-year life sentence. Hamed, a veteran of the Second Intifada and planner of multiple military operations, has remained a symbol of Palestinian resistance despite harsh imprisonment. Under the initial phase of the agreement, Hamas will release 20 Israeli prisoners within 72 hours of the ceasefire, while Israel will free over 2,000 Palestinian detainees, including hundreds serving life sentences.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that President Donald Trump’s meetings with leaders of eight Arab and Muslim-majority nations during last month’s United Nations General Assembly played a crucial role in advancing a Gaza ceasefire. Discussions centered on ending the Israel–Hamas conflict and planning post-war reconstruction. Following these meetings, Trump consulted with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with both leaders agreeing on a proposed 20-point framework for peace. Trump’s negotiating team then intensified efforts to involve Hamas through Qatar and Egypt. Rubio highlighted that Trump also conducted extensive phone calls and meetings with global leaders as part of an intense humanitarian and diplomatic initiative. Rubio emphasized that this success would not have been possible without the direct involvement of the U.S. President. Trump thanked the leaders of Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Indonesia for their assistance in facilitating the ceasefire.

Thousands of Palestinians displaced by the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas have started returning to their homes, many of which have been reduced to rubble. The ceasefire officially came into effect on Friday, with Israeli forces pulling back from key areas in Gaza. The agreement includes the release of Israeli captives within 72 hours in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Residents of Gaza expressed mixed emotions—relief at returning home but grief at the destruction left behind. Crowds gathered along coastal and city streets, marking their return after years of displacement. The humanitarian situation remains fragile, with thousands needing urgent assistance.

Hazem Qassem, spokesperson for Hamas, has accused Israel of attempting to manipulate specific clauses of the recently announced peace agreement, particularly those concerning prisoner lists and Gaza withdrawals. According to Qassem, Israel is seeking to exploit these clauses while avoiding meaningful discussions. He emphasized that the key priority is to create suitable conditions on the ground for the exchange of prisoners, asserting that a genuine peace agreement should end the brutal conflict against the Palestinian people.

Hamas also announced that a peace agreement was reached through talks in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. Indirect discussions with Israel began on Monday with the objective of reconsidering U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace proposal. Arab and Israeli media reported that the first phase of the agreement has started taking effect, and the Israeli cabinet has approved the deal.

An Israeli reservist, Sergeant First Class Michael Mordechai Nachmani, 26, was killed by gunfire from a Hamas sniper in Gaza City on October 9. Nachmani, a resident of Dimona, served in the 614th Combat Engineering Battalion of the Technology and Maintenance Corps. The attack coincided with Israeli and Hamas representatives signing an agreement in Egypt to release all prisoners held by Hamas in Gaza. Israel’s cabinet has approved a ceasefire, which will come into effect within 24 hours, while hostages are expected to be freed within 72 hours. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the agreement as both a diplomatic achievement and a moral victory for Israel, signaling a hopeful, yet tense moment in the ongoing Gaza conflict.

Bangladeshi photojournalist and activist Dr. Shahidul Alam has been detained by Israeli authorities and transferred to Ketziot prison in the Negev Desert, along with other members of the Gaza-bound “Global Sumud Flotilla.” According to Drik, Shahidul’s organization, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel – confirmed that all journalists, healthcare workers, human rights defenders, and crew members aboard the flotilla were taken to Ashdod port before being sent to prison. Activists reported facing violence during the seizure of their ship by Israeli forces. Drik’s statement condemned the arrests, noting that around 10,000 Palestinians are already imprisoned in Ketziot under Israeli occupation. The organization demanded the immediate release of all flotilla activists and Palestinian detainees, reaffirming its solidarity with the Palestinian people and their struggle for freedom.

Hamas has confirmed that it reached an indirect ceasefire agreement with Israel this week in Egypt, aiming to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The Palestinian organization stated the deal allows for the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the entry of humanitarian aid, and the exchange of prisoners. U.S. President Donald Trump earlier announced that both Hamas and Israel had agreed to implement the first phase of his 20-point plan for a ceasefire and hostage release. Hamas submitted a list of Palestinian prisoners to Israeli authorities, pending final approval, which will be publicly released once authorized. The group called on President Trump to ensure Israel fully implements the agreement without delay, emphasizing the importance of compliance to secure lasting peace in the region.

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has estimated that rebuilding Gaza will require $52 billion, equivalent to 634,000 crore Bangladeshi taka, following two years of relentless Israeli attacks that left most of the enclave in ruins. UNOPS Director Jorge Moreira da Silva told Al Jazeera that 80 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure has been destroyed, adding that debris removal will be the first priority once the conflict ends. In a parallel development, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to implement the first phase of a peace plan aimed at ending the Gaza war. Trump wrote on Truth Social that the deal includes the release of hostages and Israeli troop withdrawal. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also confirmed progress on four key negotiation points: prisoner exchange, troop withdrawal boundaries, humanitarian aid, and ceasefire conditions.

Israeli naval forces have detained Bangladeshi photographer and human rights activist Shahidul Alam, along with more than 150 international volunteers, after intercepting a Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters on Wednesday. The nine-ship convoy, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was carrying over $110,000 worth of medical supplies and humanitarian aid for hospitals in Gaza. Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed that the detainees, now taken to Ashdod Port, are in good health and will be repatriated soon. Organizers alleged that Israeli commandos raided the vessels from helicopters and unlawfully seized their boats. Turkey condemned the operation as an act of piracy and a serious breach of international law, saying Turkish citizens and MPs were also on board. The incident adds to growing global criticism of Israel’s blockade of Gaza, which has intensified famine and humanitarian suffering since October 2023.

Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement to implement the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed Gaza peace plan, aimed at ending the prolonged war in the region. Trump announced the development on his social media platform Truth Social, saying the deal will lead to the release of all hostages, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and the beginning of a sustainable peace process. The negotiations took place in Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh, with participation from key mediators including Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Turkey’s intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. According to Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, both sides agreed on all terms for the first phase of the ceasefire. The agreement is expected to end hostilities, free hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, signaling a major breakthrough in one of the world’s deadliest ongoing conflicts.

The Gaza Health Ministry has reported that since October 7, 2023, Israel’s attacks have killed 67,173 Palestinians, including 20,179 children, while 169,780 people have been injured. Continuous bombardment has also severely impacted healthcare workers, with 1,701 killed and 362 detained, many missing and denied basic rights. The ministry highlighted deaths from famine caused by Israel’s blockade, with 460 fatalities, including 154 children, and over 51,000 children under five suffering severe malnutrition. According to the United Nations, only 18% of Gaza is free from military control or evacuation orders, and many Palestinians have faced repeated displacement. Since mid-August, 417,000 people fled north to south, but southern areas remain overcrowded with families in makeshift shelters. Aid agencies are struggling amid limited resources, and the UN warns that forced relocation of civilians could constitute ethnic cleansing.

A new humanitarian flotilla organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) is sailing toward Gaza, carrying vital food, medicine, and supplies for residents suffering under Israel’s 18-year blockade. According to a statement posted on Telegram on October 7, the fleet is currently about 300 kilometers (150 nautical miles) from the Gaza coast in the Mediterranean Sea. The flotilla comprises nine vessels and more than 100 volunteers from various international organizations. This new mission follows the “Global Sumud Flotilla,” launched in August, whose 43 vessels were intercepted by Israeli naval forces near Gaza. Among those participants were Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and South African politician Mandla Mandela. Despite the earlier interception and detentions, the FFC remains determined to break the siege and deliver aid directly to Gaza — a mission that, if successful, would mark the first international fleet to reach Gaza’s coast in 18 years.

After nearly two years of deadly conflict, Israel and the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas have started indirect negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza. The discussions, beginning at 6:30 p.m. local time, involve delegations from both sides, with Egypt and Qatar acting as mediators. Officials from the mediating countries are holding separate meetings with each party to facilitate dialogue. The talks focus on progressing the first phase of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, which seeks conditions for the release of a set number of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for all Israeli captives. While Hamas has agreed to some elements of the proposal, key issues, especially concerning demilitarization, remain unresolved. Diplomats in the Middle East view the Sharm El-Sheikh talks as a critical step toward resolving the Gaza crisis.

Palestinian resistance group Hamas has strongly denied media reports claiming it agreed to surrender its weapons under international supervision as part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan. According to a report by Anadolu Agency on October 5, Hamas described the claims as “fabricated” and aimed at distorting its stance on the ongoing ceasefire discussions. Senior Hamas member Mahmoud Mardawi stated that the group categorically rejects the false allegations circulated by several media outlets, which, he said, are designed to mislead public opinion. He urged journalists to verify facts before publishing any information. The denial comes after recent reports suggested Hamas had agreed to hand over its weapons to a joint Palestinian-Egyptian authority. While Hamas has reportedly accepted most elements of Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace proposal, including prisoner exchanges and reconstruction, the organization remains firm on refusing disarmament.