International
Thousands of Palestinians returning home as Gaza ceasefire takes effect
Thousands of Palestinians returning home as Gaza ceasefire takes effect
WADI GAZA, Gaza Strip: Tens of thousands of Palestinians headed back to the heavily destroyed northern Gaza Strip on Friday as a US-brokered ceasefire came into effect.
The deal has raised hopes for ending the Israel-Hamas war, with all the remaining hostages taken set to be released within days.
Questions remain over who will govern Gaza as Israeli troops gradually pull back and whether Hamas will disarm, as called for in US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who unilaterally ended a ceasefire in March, hinted that Israel might renew its offensive if Hamas does not give up its weapons.
The latest truce nevertheless marks a key step toward ending a ruinous two-year war that was triggered by Hamas’ 2023 attack on Israel.
The fighting has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and displaced around 90 percent of the Gaza population of some 2 million, often multiple times. Many of them will find fields of rubble where their homes once stood.
The military confirmed the start of the ceasefire Friday, and the remaining 48 hostages, around 20 of them believed to be alive, are to be released by Monday.
Palestinians said heavy shelling in parts of Gaza earlier on Friday had mostly stopped after the military’s announcement.
Netanyahu said in a televised statement Friday that the next stages would see Hamas disarm and Gaza demilitarized.
“If this is achieved the easy way — so be it. If not — it will be achieved the hard way,” Netanyahu said. He added that Hamas agreed to the deal “only when it felt that the sword was on its neck — and it is still on its neck.”
The Israeli military has said it will continue to operate defensively from the roughly 50 percent of Gaza it still controls after pulling back to agreed-upon lines.
Meanwhile, the United Nations was given the green light by Israel to begin delivering aid into Gaza starting Sunday, a UN official said. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public.
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The aid will include 170,000 metric tons that have already been positioned in neighboring countries such as Jordan and Egypt as humanitarian officials awaited permission from Israeli forces to restart their work.
In the last several months, the UN and its humanitarian partners have only been able to deliver 20 percent of the aid needed in the Gaza Strip, according to UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher.
People on the move
A steady stream of people, the vast majority on foot, crammed onto a coastal road in the central Gaza Strip, heading north to see what might remain of their homes. It was a repeat of emotional scenes from an earlier ceasefire in January. Others headed to other parts of the Palestinian territory in the south.
The destruction they find this time will be even greater, after Israel waged a new offensive in Gaza City, in the north, in recent weeks. The military bombed high-rises and blew up homes in what it said was an attempt to destroy Hamas’ remaining military infrastructure.
Palestinians have expressed relief that the war may end, tempered with concern about the future and lingering pain from the staggering death and destruction.
“There wasn’t much joy, but the ceasefire somewhat eased the pain of death and bloodshed, and the pain of our loved ones and brothers who suffered in this war,” said Jamal Mesbah, who was displaced from the north and plans to return.
In Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis, hundreds of Palestinians returning to their homes found wrecked buildings, rubble and destruction after Israeli troops withdrew.
“There was nothing left. Just a few clothes, pieces of wood and pots,” said Fatma Radwan, who was displaced from Khan Younis. People were still trying to retrieve bodies from under the rubble, she added.
Many buildings were flattened, and none was undamaged, as people went back to search for their belongings. “We came to a place that is unidentifiable. An unidentifiable town. Destruction is everywhere,” said Hani Omran, who was also displaced from Khan Younis.
The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage.
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In Israel’s ensuing offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and nearly 170,000 wounded, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the deaths were women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, and the United Nations and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.
The war has also triggered other conflicts in the region, sparked worldwide protests and led to allegations of genocide that Israel denies.
How the agreement is expected to unfold
Israel is set to release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the remaining hostages. A list Israel published Friday did not include high-profile prisoner Marwan Barghouti, the most popular Palestinian leader and a potentially unifying figure. Israel views him and other high-profile prisoners as terrorists and has refused to release them in past exchanges.
Khalil Al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official and lead negotiator, said Thursday evening that all women and children held in Israeli jails will be freed.
The hostage and prisoner releases are expected to begin Monday, two Egyptian officials briefed on the talks and a Hamas official said, though another official said they could occur as early as Sunday night. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to be publicly named speaking about the negotiations.
A relative of one of the Israeli hostages believed to have died in captivity says the family is hoping that his body will be returned for burial.
“It’s a measured sense of hope in all hostage families,’’ said Stephen Brisley, whose sister, Lianne Sharabi, and her two teenage daughters were killed in the Oct. 7 attack.
Lianne’s husband, Eli Sharabi, was eventually released, but his brother, Yossi, is believed to have died in an airstrike in January 2024. The family hopes to give him a dignified burial.
“We hold our hope lightly because we’ve had our hopes dashed before,” Brisley told The Associated Press from his home in South Wales. “It still feels like a long way between the announcement of the deal and actually getting Yossi’s body back to bury him.’’
As part of the deal, five border crossings are expected to reopen, including the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, Egyptian and Hamas officials said. That will allow aid to flow into the territory, parts of which are experiencing famine.
The Trump plan calls for Israel to maintain an open-ended military presence inside Gaza, along its border with Israel. An international force, comprised largely of troops from Arab and Muslim countries, would be responsible for security inside Gaza.
To help support and monitor the ceasefire deal, US officials said they would send about 200 troops to Israel as part of a broader, international team. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not authorized for release.
The US would also lead a massive internationally funded reconstruction effort.
The plan envisions an eventual role for the Palestinian Authority — something Netanyahu has long opposed. But it requires the authority, which administers parts of the West Bank, to undergo a sweeping reform program that could take years.
The Trump plan is even more vague about a future Palestinian state, which Netanyahu firmly rejects.
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International
Iran Unveils ‘We Will Kill Trump’ Billboard in Tehran Amid Rising Tensions With US
Iran has unveiled a massive billboard in its capital, Tehran, bearing the threatening message “We Will Kill Trump”, in an escalation of anti-American rhetoric amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.
The billboard, displayed above the busy Enghelab Square on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, depicts US President Donald Trump behind prison bars with his head bowed beneath the threatening inscription.
The development comes as the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel continues to generate tensions across the Middle East, despite renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent a fresh escalation of hostilities.
According to reports by the Agence France-Presse (AFP), another billboard displayed nearby features Trump, US Vice-President JD Vance, American special envoy Steve Witkoff and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with bloodied faces and torn suits against the backdrop of damaged American and Israeli flags.

Iran Unveils ‘We Will Kill Trump’ Billboard in Tehran Amid Rising Tensions With US
Dozens of people gathered around Enghelab Square, waving red flags and carrying banners bearing messages such as “There Will Be Blood”.
The gathering also featured calls for revenge over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in US-Israeli attacks on February 28, 2026, which triggered the current regional conflict.
The latest displays are part of a series of anti-American and anti-Israeli messages that have appeared across Tehran since the outbreak of the war.
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In recent days, an open-air exhibition at Tajrish Square in northern Tehran has also featured paintings portraying Trump in humiliating situations.
One of the artworks depicts the US President lying bloodied on the ground with a foot pressing against his head, while another shows a bomb obscuring his face.
A life-sized replica of a prison cell has also been installed at the exhibition, with an actor impersonating Trump sitting inside. A nearby screen reportedly displays images of destruction caused by US military strikes in Iran.
Iranian authorities have accused Trump of deliberately targeting civilian facilities during the conflict, including a school and a wedding ceremony, allegedly killing dozens of people.
The billboard campaign comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts to bring Washington and Tehran back to negotiations and prevent fighting from resuming across the region.
Trump, speaking ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections, has indicated that an agreement with Iran remains possible, saying a deal “could happen”.
The conflict has also contributed to rising global economic uncertainty, particularly in energy markets, amid concerns over disruptions to oil supplies and shipping routes.
Iran has a long history of using state-sponsored murals, billboards and public exhibitions to communicate political messages, celebrate military figures and express opposition to foreign governments, particularly the United States and Israel.
The latest billboard, however, stands out for its explicit threat against the American President at a time when diplomatic efforts are continuing to prevent another escalation of the conflict.
Iran Unveils ‘We Will Kill Trump’ Billboard in Tehran Amid Rising Tensions With US
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International
Tourist Killed, Three Injured as Two Helicopters Collide Near Mount Everest in Nepal
A 47-year-old Indian tourist has been killed and three other people injured after two helicopters collided while attempting to land in Nepal’s Mount Everest region.
The accident occurred at approximately 8:11 a.m. local time on Tuesday at the helipad in Pheriche, Solukhumbu district, when helicopters operated by Fishtail Air and Air Dynasty collided during their landing approach.
The deceased was identified as Vasanth Kumar Balaramaramudu, an Indian national from Tamil Nadu, who was travelling aboard the Fishtail Air helicopter.
Three other people, including the pilots of both aircraft, sustained injuries in the collision.
They were identified as Shailesh Krishna Patel, a 49-year-old New Zealand citizen of Indian origin, and the two pilots, Rabindra Prajapati and Prajal KC.
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According to local authorities, the injured passenger and one of the pilots were airlifted to Mediciti Hospital in Kathmandu for treatment, while the other pilot received medical attention in Lukla.
The body of the deceased tourist was also transported to Lukla following the accident.
Reports indicated that the helicopters were attempting to land at the same helipad when their rotor blades struck each other, causing the collision.
The Fishtail Air helicopter was carrying tourists who had been rescued from the Everest region, while the Air Dynasty aircraft was reportedly transporting cargo and had no passengers aboard.
The incident has drawn attention to aviation safety in Nepal, where helicopters play a crucial role in transporting tourists, climbers and supplies across the mountainous Himalayan region.
Pheriche is a major stop for trekkers and mountaineers travelling towards Mount Everest Base Camp. The area is particularly dependent on helicopter services because of its difficult terrain and limited road access.
Helicopters are frequently used to evacuate climbers and trekkers who become ill, exhausted or stranded at high altitudes, as well as to transport essential supplies.
The accident occurred during Nepal’s peak trekking season, when thousands of visitors travel to the Everest region.
Authorities have commenced investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision and determine what led to the two helicopters making contact during their landing manoeuvres.
Tourist Killed, Three Injured as Two Helicopters Collide Near Mount Everest in Nepal
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International
US Strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island as Tensions Escalate Around Strait of Hormuz
US Strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island as Tensions Escalate Around Strait of Hormuz
The United States has carried out fresh military strikes on Iran’s strategically important Qeshm Island, raising fears of renewed escalation in the conflict between Washington and Tehran amid mounting tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
The strikes, conducted on Monday, November 2, 2026, reportedly targeted Iranian military installations, including missile launchers and radar systems, according to US officials cited by international media.
The operation was described by American officials as a limited defensive action intended to prevent Iranian forces from threatening US military assets and commercial vessels navigating the strategic waterway.
According to reports by Reuters and The Wall Street Journal, the strikes followed an incident in which Iranian forces allegedly fired surface-to-air missiles at an American aircraft operating in the region.
A US official also said American forces intercepted another Iranian missile launched from Qeshm Island towards commercial shipping.
The Pentagon referred enquiries about the operation to the US Central Command, which had not publicly provided details of the strikes as of Tuesday.
Iranian state media subsequently reported several explosions on Qeshm Island and in the nearby coastal city of Bandar Lengeh.
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The Iranian state news agency, IRNA, reported that the explosions occurred late Monday, with witnesses claiming to have seen aircraft flying over the island.
However, Iranian authorities had not provided a confirmed account of the extent of the damage or possible casualties.
The latest military operation comes after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have intercepted three American drones operating near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state media reported that two reconnaissance drones were brought down south of Qeshm Island using electronic warfare systems, while another MQ-9 drone was allegedly destroyed east of the strait.
The claims had not been independently verified, and the US military had not publicly confirmed the alleged losses.
Qeshm Island occupies a strategic position near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime routes for crude oil and natural gas shipments.
The waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, making it a critical passage for international energy supplies.
Before the conflict, approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed through the strait.
Military confrontations around the area have already disrupted commercial shipping, raising concerns about the security of oil tankers and the potential consequences for global energy markets.
The latest strikes also come against the backdrop of diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, which began in late February 2026.
Despite the military developments, US President Donald Trump has played down the possibility of renewed large-scale fighting, suggesting that a diplomatic agreement with Tehran could be within reach.
Trump said on Monday that Iran wanted a settlement and expressed optimism that negotiations could produce an agreement.
Vice-President JD Vance also indicated that Washington believed progress was being made towards a possible negotiated settlement.
Iran, however, has maintained that any agreement must address the American naval blockade of its ports and guarantee an end to hostilities.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran had communicated its conditions to Washington, adding that the United States must respond to its proposals.
Iran also indicated that its proposal for reopening the Strait of Hormuz could be implemented within two days if Washington met its conditions.
The latest strikes have nevertheless exposed the fragile nature of the diplomatic efforts, with military confrontations continuing even as both sides signal interest in negotiations.
The development has also unsettled international oil markets, with crude prices rising in early Asian trading on Tuesday following reports of the American operation.
Brent crude futures rose by 0.5 per cent to $105.25 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude increased by 0.5 per cent to $96.93 per barrel, according to Reuters.
Analysts warned that further military escalation around the Strait of Hormuz could increase the risk premium on oil prices and prolong disruptions to global energy supplies.
With Washington describing its latest operation as defensive and Tehran maintaining its military posture, uncertainty remains over whether diplomatic negotiations will prevent another round of direct confrontation.
US Strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island as Tensions Escalate Around Strait of Hormuz
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