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four world leaders at a peace summit in egypt behind a sign reading 'peace 2025'

Full text of the Gaza declaration

US President Donald Trump hailed a "tremendous day for the Middle East" as he and regional leaders signed a declaration meant to cement a ceasefire in Gaza.

Middle East • 14 Oct 25

Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid supplies arrive in Gaza through the Kissufim Border Crossing

Gaza ceasefire outlook darkens as Israel delays aid

Israel has delayed aid into Gaza and kept the enclave's border shut, while re-emergent Hamas fighters were seen executing men in the street, darkening the outlook for US President Donald Trump's plan to end the war.

Middle East • 14 Oct 25

US President Donald Trump addresses the Israeli parliament

Trump declares peace - but reality is not that simple

Israel's parliament erupted with roaring ovations for Donald Trump and his Gaza peace deal. RTÉ's Deputy Foreign Editor Edmund Heaphy, who is in Tel Aviv, looks at the validity of the US President's claim that peace has been achieved.

Analysis and Comment • 14 Oct 25

Yuval Raphael representing Israel walks on stage during the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest Opening Ceremony

Eurovision organisers push back Israel decision

Eurovision Song Contest organisers will no longer meet online in November to vote on Israel's participation in the competition, following Middle East "developments", the European Broadcasting Union said in an apparent reference to the Gaza ceasefire.

Entertainment • 14 Oct 25

US President Donald Trump delivers a statement during a summit on Gaza in Sharm el-Sheikh

Hamas frees hostages, Trump hails 'tremendous day'

Hamas has freed the last living Israeli hostages from Gaza under a ceasefire deal and Israel sent home busloads of Palestinian detainees, as US President Donald Trump told Israel's parliament that peace had arrived in the Holy Land.

Middle East • 14 Oct 25

Donald Trump (L) holds hands and speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Israeli parliament

Trump receives hero's welcome at Israeli parliament

Confident US President Donald Trump stands before the Israeli Parliament as a "hero" as he says he expects peace in the Middle East to last.

Analysis and Comment • 13 Oct 25

People walk amid the destruction in Gaza City in northern Gaza

Ireland 'ready to do more' for injured Gazans - Taoiseach

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Ireland "stands ready to do more" if injured Gazans need to be evacuated here for medical treatment.

Middle East • 13 Oct 25

Israelis react as they watch the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas

Who are the 20 living hostages released by Hamas

Twenty living Israeli hostages have been released from Gaza under a ceasefire deal with Hamas.

Middle East • 13 Oct 25

Several men sit at a long table. Two are holding up documents in green folders. The words 'Peace 2025' are written on the front of the table.

As it happened: Mediators sign Gaza ceasefire agreement

Follow all the latest developments as world leaders meet in Egypt for a summit on Gaza.

Middle East • 13 Oct 25

An Israeli man smiles released by Hamas smiles on a bus

All 20 living hostages return to Israel in ceasefire deal

Hamas has handed over the 20 surviving Israeli hostages under a ceasefire agreement, as US President Donald Trump and other world leaders geared up for a summit on Gaza.

Middle East • 13 Oct 25

An aerial view shows the destruction in the Al-Katiba area of Khan Yunis, in southern Gaza Strip

Gaza ceasefire holds ahead of expected hostage release

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas held in Gaza for a third day ahead of the expected release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

Middle East • 12 Oct 25

Footage from drone shows extent of Gaza destruction

Footage recorded from a drone has shown damaged and destroyed buildings in Gaza City, the day after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect.

Middle East • 11 Oct 25

Hundreds of Palestinians continue returning from the south to the north of Gaza

Over 500,000 return to Gaza City since ceasefire

Gaza's civil defence agency has said more than 500,000 people have returned to Gaza City since a ceasefire took effect.

Middle East • 12 Oct 25

Trucks carrying humanitarian aid are preparing to depart from Egypt's Arish region toward the Rafah border crossing into Gaza

As it happened: UN to ramp up delivery of aid into Gaza

Follow developments as Palestinians trekked over the wastelands of Gaza to return to their abandoned homes, after a ceasefire took effect and Israeli troops began pulling back from urban areas.

Middle East • 10 Oct 25

Palestinians walk along a street amid rubble in the Al-Jalaa area during a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, under the first phase of the Gaza peace plan, in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, on October 10, 2025. (Photo by Abood Abusalama / Middle East Images via

Israel ceases fire and Gazans start returning home

Israel declared a ceasefire in Gaza and began to pull back its forces today, as tens of thousands of exhausted Palestinians made their way back to their devastated homes.

Middle East • 10 Oct 25

Composite shows siblings Manal in Dublin and Waleed in Gaza

Gaza family kept apart by war 'dream of safe life'

When Manal Rizq called her brother Waleed in Gaza, there was music playing in the background.

Middle East • 10 Oct 25

Men and boys look happy as they wave their hands in the air in a dark outdoor area

Long-term peace in Middle East requires tenacious effort

The Israel-Hamas peace agreement could be far-reaching, not just ending the war in Gaza, but also opening a pathway towards a long elusive settlement to the Middle East conflict.

Analysis and Comment • 10 Oct 25

The Independent TD thanked the public for applying pressure since the 'illegal abduction'

Israel releases Heneghan after Gaza flotilla intercepted

Independent TD Barry Heneghan has said he has been released from detention by the Israeli Defence Forces after a number of flotilla vessels heading to Gaza were intercepted.

Politics • 09 Oct 25

A man is seen looking across a charred landscape in gaza

What do we know about the Gaza ceasefire deal

Questions remain about the future of the Palestinian territory, its recovery and governance, writes Tania Reut.

Middle East • 09 Oct 25

Peace deal shows rare hope after brutal two years of war

After two years of war and numerous false dawns on the prospect of a ceasefire, last night marked a major breakthrough as Israel and Hamas finally signed off on the first phase of a Gaza peace plan.

Analysis and Comment • 09 Oct 25

Palestinians inspect the rubble at the Bank of Palestine in Gaza City

Key moments in the Gaza war

US President Donald Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed the first phase of a Gaza peace plan after more than two years of war that killed tens of thousands and unleashed a major humanitarian crisis.

Middle East • 09 Oct 25

Smoke rises after Israeli strikes hit the Islamic University area in Gaza City

What we know about the new Gaza ceasefire deal

US President Donald Trump announced last night that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza, after days of indirect talks in Egypt - here's what we know so far.

Middle East • 09 Oct 25

Smoke rises from the area after Israeli airstrikes targeted areas in the Gaza

As it happened: Israel, Hamas agree to Gaza peace plan

Look back at developments after Israel and Hamas agreed to first phase of a Gaza ceasefire plan.

Middle East • 09 Oct 25

Several Palestinian children wearing colourful clothes look happy as they wave a red, white and black flag in an outdoor area

Israeli government ratifies Gaza truce deal with Hamas

Israel's government has ratified a ceasefire with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, clearing the way to suspend hostilities in Gaza within 24 hours and free Israeli hostages held in Gaza within 72 hours after that.

Middle East • 10 Oct 25

Podcast: Is Trump's Peace Plan the only way for Gaza?

A plan by US President Donald Trump for Gaza is "the only way to get to a rapid ceasefire", one expert has told Behind the Story.

Behind the Story • 08 Oct 25