Image source, EPA

As we write, a huge number of Gazans are returning to what’s left of their homes in the north of Gaza.

It’s been a key area throughout the conflict.

Israel’s military campaign focused on this area, where it said Hamas was hiding. Hamas denied this.

Hundreds of thousands of residents have been displaced from the north of the Strip.

Much of the overall damage is concentrated here, as it suffered heavy bombardment and much of the area fell under Israeli military control and evacuation orders.

This included Gaza City, the most populated part of the region. Its also suffered the most destruction.

Its once popular seafront, where people used to hang out, is now the site of a mass migration, with people walking among tents and bombed buildings.

• You can Watch live in the page to see the mass return of Gazans to the north

Israel's justice ministry has released the names of 250 Palestinian prisoners it says will be freed as part of the hostage-ceasefire agreement.

Of the 250 prisoners, 5 will be released in East Jerusalem, 100 to the West Bank, and 145 are expected to be deported, Israeli army radio reports.

Hamas officials previously told the BBC that the list of prisoners it submitted to mediators in Egypt for Israel to release included high-profile figures such as Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences after being convicted of planning attacks that led to five civilians being killed. Barghouti is seen by many Palestinians as a future president.

But Netanyahu's office has confirmed it has refused to release Barghouti.

We'll bring you more details about who is on the list as soon as we get them.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Understanding the hostage numbers of this conflictpublished at 13:13 BST 10 October

13:13 BST 10 October

By Emma Pengelly

On 7 October 2023 a total of 251 hostages were taken from southern Israel into Gaza. Prior to that, four Israelis were already being held by Hamas - bringing the total to 255 hostages.

A total of 148 hostages have since been released, either as part of ceasefire deals or in separate releases. Eight of those were released dead.

In addition to that, as part of Israeli operations in Gaza, eight hostages have been rescued alive while the bodies of 51 dead hostages have been recovered.

As it stands, there are 48 hostages remaining in Gaza - this figure includes Hadar Goldin whose body has been held by Hamas for more than a decade.

According to Israel, 20 hostages are believed to be alive and 26 have been pronounced dead.

The status of two hostages remains uncertain, according to the Israeli government, which has not named them officially.

Among the dead hostages whose bodies are still in Gaza is 27-year-old Inbar Hayman - the last remaining female hostage.

Israeli officials have told CNN that Hamas may be unable to return all deceased hostages because it does not know the location of them or is unable to retrieve between seven and 15 bodies.

The BBC's Lyse Doucet has spoken to relatives of hostages in Tel Aviv, who have shared mixed feelings about news of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.

One man, Uri Goren, has been campaigning since 7 October 2023 for the return of his cousin's body after Tal Haimi was killed and taken by Hamas two years ago.

With an image of his cousin printed on his t-shirt, Goren says he allowed himself "a big sigh of relief" when he heard about the ceasefire agreement.

"This is what we've been out on the streets for rallying for two years," he says.

But Goren notes that his relief is tempered by Hamas' admission that they don't know the whereabouts of all of the murdered hostages' bodies.

"This will not end until all 48 are back home," he stresses.

Image source, Reuters

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff confirms that the Israel Defense Forces completed the first phase withdrawal to the yellow line at 12:00 local time (10:00 BST).

He adds in a statement that the 72-hour period to release the hostages has begun.

The special envoy was a key part of the negotiations and met with Netanyahu in Israel last night.

• What is the yellow line? Read about it here

Image source, EPA

More now from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has just given a national address.

He tells Israeli citizens that he is “fulfilling” the promise to bring back all the hostages.

As part of the first stage of the ceasefire agreement, Israeli forces have now retreated from certain areas of Gaza.

But Netanyahu says that Israel is still “surrounding Hamas from every direction”, adding that the next stages of Trump’s plan are that “Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarised” - Hamas has not made any pledge to disarm at this point.

Netanyahu adds: “If this is achieved the easy way - so much the better. And if not - it will be achieved the hard way.”

"I wish to thank President Trump for his global leadership and his relentless efforts to develop this plan for the return of the hostages," the PM says, adding the US president has "proved his tremendous friendship for our nation and our country".

Rushdi Abualouf
Gaza correspondent, reporting from Istanbul

Thousands of Palestinians have begun returning from southern Gaza to Gaza City, weeks after fleeing the Israeli offensive that turned much of the city into rubble.

The returnees, many travelling on foot for more than 20km, carried what remained of their belongings on their backs. Those who could afford it paid high prices to hire donkey carts or small trucks to make the arduous journey north.

Along the damaged narrow coastal roads, some waved Palestinian flags and flashed victory signs. But the prevailing mood was one of exhaustion. Many appeared weak and malnourished after months of displacement, hunger and fear.

“The road is long and difficult, there’s no food or water,” says Alaa Saleh, a schoolteacher who fled Gaza City with his wife and six children to Khan Younis.

“I left my family behind and started walking north. Thousands around me are struggling. Hiring a car costs around 4,000 shekels (£924; $1,227), far beyond what most people can afford.”

Those returning say they are driven by desperation rather than confidence that it is safe. Many have already been told that their homes no longer exist.

Videos circulating online show vast swathes of destruction in Gaza City’s main neighbourhoods Sheikh Radwan in the north, and Sabra and Zeitoun to the south and east, where entire apartment blocks have been levelled.

Gaza-run civil defence crews have been recovering bodies from beneath the ruins, while aid agencies warn that essential supplies like food, fuel and clean water remain critically scarce.

Despite the withdrawal of Israeli forces from several districts, access to many parts of Gaza City is still restricted, and fears persist that the fragile calm could be temporary.

As the first phase of the ceasefire plan gets underway, Palestinians who were displaced to the south of the Gaza Strip have started arriving in Gaza City.

We've been getting some pictures through this afternoon as people make their way past destroyed buildings, piles of grey rubble and bombed-out homes to reach the largest city in the besieged enclave.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, EPA

Image source, EPA

A total of 17 people have been killed in Gaza in the past 24 hours, the Hamas-run health ministry says.

In its daily update, it adds that 71 have been injured.

The total death toll has risen to 67,211 since 7 October 2023, it writes.

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

As Israeli officials discussed the deal last night, I was catching up with Meirav Leshem Gonen, whose daughter Romi was freed in the ceasefire earlier this year.

She says "nothing can prepare" you for what it’s like to have a loved one return home from captivity.

"What we can do is understand that we don’t understand anything - we will never understand what they've been through. When they are brought back they're different, we are also different in their eyes. It takes a lot of time," she says.

"For the mothers that are waiting for their boys, they need to be very patient and very calm… You have to be the rock that holds them," she says.

While her own daughter returned home earlier this year, Meirav says she has never stopped fighting for the other hostages and their families, who she describes as "brothers and sisters".

The thought that the remaining hostages - living and dead - will soon be home is "overwhelming".

"I’m waiting for the moment they're back in Israel and then I will be happy - for now I'm excited."

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

While I’ve been in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, I’ve also been receiving messages from people in Gaza.

Mother of three Walaa tells me she has been feeling "positive energy" since the deal was announced.

"I hope the war ends and quickly," she says.

But she says ongoing sounds of the Israeli military "terrify the heart" even though "they may just be withdrawing".

For context: Eyewitnesses have told the BBC air strikes continued into the early hours of Friday ahead of the implementation of the ceasefire. The IDF says it will continue to operate from its updated deployment lines "to remove any immediate threat"

Walaa gave birth to her youngest son in late August, and hopes that the deal means he will not grow up in a war zone.

"Thank God he is in a good condition. I’ve been afraid of running out of milk and diapers. But God willing, I will be able to provide that for him once the war is over," she tells me on WhatsApp.

• As a reminder, Israel does not allow international journalists independent access to Gaza, so our conversations with people there happen through messages and phone calls, and through local BBC freelancers based in the territory

Image source, Reuters

We've just been hearing from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who spoke just after the Israeli military said a ceasefire in Gaza had come into effect.

He says that they will now "act to locate all the kidnapped and fallen as soon as possible".

Netanyahu adds that he "faced enormous pressure from inside and outside - I rejected this pressure firmly", and that "anyone who says this agreement was always on the table isn’t telling the truth".

He continues, saying that "two years ago, Simchat Torah [a Jewish holiday that fell on 7 October 2023] turned into a day of national mourning".

This year, the celebration falls on Monday, the same day of the deadline to return all remaining Israeli hostages - making it "a day of national joy", Netanyahu adds.

• As a reminder, Hamas is holding 48 hostages in Gaza following releases during an earlier ceasefire, 20 of whom are still thought to be alive

Tom Bennett
Reporting from Jerusalem

Image source, Anadolu via Getty Images

As we’ve been reporting, the Israeli military has announced it has “begun positioning” its troops along the lines detailed in the ceasefire agreement. It says the ceasefire has now come into effect.

This means a 72-hour countdown has begun, during which Hamas must release all 20 hostages who are believed to still be alive. They must be handed over by 12:00 local time (10:00 BST) on Monday.

The exact details of their release remains unclear, but in previous hostage handovers they've been collected by the Red Cross which has transferred them to Israel. From there, they have been airlifted to Israeli hospitals for check-ups and to be reunited with their families.

The bodies of deceased hostages will also be returned, though it is unclear how long this could take.

A copy of the agreement shared by Israeli media states that the handovers will take place “without any public ceremonies or media coverage”. Previous hostage handovers have involved highly-choreographed Hamas ceremonies - something the Israeli government wants to avoid.

During this process, we expect to see the release of about 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails and 1,700 detainees from Gaza. We are currently looking to confirm the identities of these individuals.

We also expect to see about 600 humanitarian aid trucks entering Gaza daily from now on.

After this process has been completed, it is thought negotiations will begin over the latter phases of Donald Trump's 20-point plan.

We can now bring you fresh pictures from Gaza showing hundreds of people walking along a coastal road in an attempt to reach the north of the Strip.

You can also follow the latest developments by pressing watch live at the top of the page.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, EPA

It's been less than 12 hours since Israel confirmed it had accepted a ceasefire and hostage release plan marking the possible end to the war in Gaza.

Israeli troops began withdrawing to an agreed position within the Strip, with the IDF confirming in the last few moments that a ceasefire is now in place. The agreement indicates Hamas now has 72 hours to release all remaining hostages.

Here's the latest:

• "We are at a momentous development," Israel's prime minister declared shortly after 00:00 BST as confirmation came through that both Israel and Hamas had agreed a ceasefire and hostage release plan for Gaza
• Israelis and Gazans alike had been seen celebrating the prospect of a deal - which will see an initial withdrawal of Israeli troops, a ceasefire, and an exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners
• The IDF has confirmed that a ceasefire has been implemented after Israeli troops positioned themselves in newly agreed positions
• It followed some confusion around the timing of a ceasefire after air strikes had continued throughout the night and into this morning

• Meanwhile, the US plans to move 200 troops to Israel to help co-ordinate the operation, officials said, but they will not enter into Gaza itself. Aid organisations have also this morning outlined plans to help
• And looking ahead, sticking points remain when it comes to a longer term agreement between Israel and Hamas - including negotiation on a Palestinian state and the role of the Palestinian Authority

We're keeping across the latest developments alongside our correspondents - stay with us.

We know the IDF says the ceasefire is now in effect and we also know aid is due to be immediately allowed into Gaza, unrestricted.

We don't know if this is happening yet.

We know that Israeli troops have completed the initial stage of withdrawal to the deployment lines agreed during negotiations for the implementation of the first phase of the ceasefire deal.

And we also know that within 72 hours of the withdrawal, all remaining Israeli hostages and around 1,700 Palestinian prisoners will be released. Hamas has until 12:00 local time (10:00 BST) on Monday.

We don't know when exactly the release will take place or where.

The ceasefire has now come into effect, the IDF says.

In a statement released on Telegram, the IDF says troops "began positioning themselves along the updated deployment lines" from 12:00 local time (10:00 BST).

"IDF troops in the Southern Command are deployed in the area and will continue to remove any immediate threat," the statement adds.

Rushdi Abualouf
Gaza correspondent, reporting from Istanbul

Image source, Reuters

Residents in northern and western Gaza City have been left stunned as Israeli forces withdrew from several neighbourhoods, revealing unprecedented devastation after weeks of heavy bombardment and demolition.

For the first time in weeks, people have entered the Sheikh Radwan, al-Karama and Beach Camp areas, only to find entire residential blocks flattened, hundreds of homes and much of the area’s infrastructure destroyed.

Dozens of videos circulating on social media showed residents walking through the rubble and filming what remains of their neighbourhoods.

In one clip, a man can be heard saying: "This is the last area we can reach. The Israeli army is still nearby. Look at the scale of destruction, they’ve destroyed everything."

As some residents were busy filming the ruins, others rushed to help Hamas’s Gaza Civil Defense teams recovering bodies from beneath the debris.

Spokesman Mahmoud Basal tells the BBC that eight bodies were pulled out from northern Gaza on Friday morning, as rescue teams continue searching "with very limited means" in other areas.

Similar scenes were reported across multiple districts vacated by Israeli forces, who have begun pulling back to agreed lines under the ceasefire framework negotiated in Sharm el-Sheikh between Hamas and Israel.

Around 700,000 displaced people from Gaza City and the north are now anxiously waiting for the withdrawal to be completed so they can return to what remains of their homes.

Alaa Saleh, a teacher who fled with his wife and six children to Khan Younis three weeks ago, tells the BBC he is desperate to return north once the coastal road opens: "My house was destroyed a year ago. I was living in a tent on the ruins, and I will go back and pitch my tent again.

"We just want to rebuild. We’re tired of living in tents that protect us from neither the heat of summer nor the cold of winter."

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says it is ready to support the deal by helping "to return hostages and detainees to their families".

In a statement, it says its teams in Gaza, Israel and the West Bank are "also ready to help return human remains so families can mourn their loved ones with dignity".

They will bring aid into Gaza and distribute it, it adds.

"The coming days are critical. I urge the parties to hold to their commitments," president Mirjana Spoljaric writes, saying the agreement "offers a vital chance to save lives and ease suffering".

The ICRC has helped to facilitate previous hostage exchanges between Israel and Hamas.

• Israel-Gaza war: The Red Cross's delicate role in hostage crises

A little earlier, Tom Fletcher, a UN humanitarian chief, spoke to BBC Radio 4's Today programme from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

He says he's remained in "close touch" with the UN's teams in Gaza, as well as with civilians, all of whom have "long waited and hoped" for this moment.

"We need the guns to go silent and we need the ceasefire to be implemented," he says as he explains the UN has a 60-day plan for aid once they are able to enact it - with the primary objective to bring high nutrition food in. Supplies are in position now, he adds.

Restoring the health system will also be a "massive challenge", Fletcher continues, as he points to the need to rebuild hospitals, get essential anaesthetics and painkillers into Gaza, as well as the loss of medical expertise.

"It's a massive job ahead," he underlines.