Thousands of Palestinians have begun returning to Gaza's north, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanks Donald Trump for securing a ceasefire
Those returning to Gaza City say they are driven by desperation rather than confidence that it is safe, with many already told their homes no longer exist, writes Rushdi Abualouf
It comes as forces have pulled back to the lines agreed under Trump's plan, the IDF says, but will continue to "remove any immediate threat
Hamas has until 12:00 local time (10:00 BST) on Monday to release all Israeli hostages, while Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian detainees - here's what's meant to happen next
Israel has published a list of 250 Palestinian prisoners it will release in exchange for the hostages but the BBC understands Hamas is pushing for more to be freed
It comes after the Israeli government approved the first phase of Trump's ceasefire and hostage return deal
Earlier, our correspondents answered your questions on the Gaza deal.
Our chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet spoke about how the supply of aid is expected to increase sharply if and when the fighting stops.
Watch: Lyse Doucet explains how much aid will enter Gaza
Image source, ReutersIsrael Defense Forces (IDF) Chief Eyal Zamir has thanked his troops during a field tour in Gaza today, before the expected ceasefire.
"Our military activity produced a political achievement; that achievement is first and foremost yours," he tells soldiers.
As we've been reporting, a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas is set to take effect after it's approved by the Israeli cabinet later.
On this, Zamir says: "In the coming hours the IDF will continue to complete the operational missions on the ground ahead of the ceasefire, in accordance with the signed agreement."
And he tells IDF members to "remain alert", adding: "We must manage the transition to a ceasefire in a measured, professional and orderly manner."
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House
An Israeli reporter in the cabinet meeting just asked Trump whether he plans to address the Knesset - Israel's parliament - during the visit he says that's in the works.
If he does, he will become the first US president to do so.
"If they would like me to, I would do it," he said. "I will do it if they want me to."
Trump, however, skipped a question about the possibility of winning the Nobel Peace Prize - something which he and many of his allies, both in the administration and around the globe, say they support.
On a two-state solution, Trump says he has no view.
"I will go with what they agree to," he added.
Image source, Getty ImagesAn aerial view of "Nobel 4 Trump", written in a field by Israeli farmers, as seen earlier today
"Finally the war has an end."
That's how Fedaa, a teacher in Deir al-Balah, told her children about the ceasefire expected in Gaza.
"They didn't ask anything. They just started jumping and hugging me in a very funny way. I started crying for no reason," she tells BBC's Outside Source.
She says the news means she can "finally breathe" for the first time in two years.
"I can see my kids happy. We are going to start again."
We've also heard from a Palestinian who sought refuge in Italy about the possible ceasefire.
Yasser, who moved to Verona after fleeing Khan Younis last year, says he is ready to return when circumstances allow. That said, he remains cautious.
"I am extremely anxious and worried that maybe something wrong will happen," he says. "Nothing is 100% guaranteed but we have to be optimistic...we really need to hope and pray that things will work out."
As a reminder, Israel's cabinet is due to meet this evening - and is widely expected to sign off the first phase of the Hamas deal, which would bring a ceasefire in Gaza.
Image source, Getty ImagesAn aid truck inside the aid warehouse in Al-Arish near the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza earlier today. Hundreds more aid lorries are due to enter Gaza once the deal is finalised
Earlier, our correspondents answered your questions on the Gaza deal.
One viewer asked if Israel could resume military operations in Gaza even if this deal is finalised and a ceasefires begins - given that previous ceasefires have ultimately failed.
Our chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet explains why there is more pressure on Israel this time.
Lyse Doucet discusses if Israel could return to military action, after a ceasefire
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House
Back in the White House, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken at the cabinet meeting, saying that Trump's relationships with foreign leaders is what has made the deal possible.
Specifically, Rubio said that Trump's meeting with Arab and Muslim leaders at the UN General Assembly on 23 September allowed for the creation of a "coalition" that would stand behind the plan.
The result, Rubio added, is that the hostages will "emerge from the darkness into the light".
"I think it will go down as a historic moment in our country," Rubio added. "Something our country should be very proud of."
Rubio's comments were met with intense applause from the rest of Trump's cabinet.
Notably, Trump's previous cabinet meetings have been hours-long affairs, with the last one clocking in at over three hours.
Today, Trump seems keen to get this over with quickly, which he says will allow him to focus on the Middle East and "peace".
Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv
“It was joy and tears and total fear of course of what will happen - it’s overwhelming,” says Miriam
Night has fallen here in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, and the crowd is still growing.Small groups are singing and dancing and chants occasionally break out of "bring them home".
People are beginning to gather in front of a stage and big screen at the front of the square, waiting for news.
There is a timer on a screen next to the stage keeping count of the exact amount of time the hostages have been in Gaza.
In the crowd, I just met Keren Miriam Stopka, who lives in Germany but is visiting friends and family. She tells me she had a "restless night" after hearing the news break of the deal.
"It was joy and tears and total fear of course of what will happen - it’s overwhelming," she says.
She says that while she doesn’t know any of the hostages personally she thinks about them every day.
"They are part of my life."
We just reported that Donald Trump says he is "leaving fairly soon for the Middle East".
We can now bring you more detail from our US partner, CBS News, who have spoken to four sources.
As the plan stands, Trump will visit Egypt and Israel, but a stop in Gaza has been ruled out.
The sources also say the planning of this trip remains fluid.
Back to US President Donald Trump's cabinet meeting in Washington DC.
He says he wants the cabinet meeting to go quickly, adding, "we have a lot of things to do, including - I won't be spending that much time here because I will be leaving fairly soon for the Middle East".
Chris Mason
Political editor
Image source, EPAA meeting has begun in Paris in the last hour, led by the French President Emmanuel Macron, to discuss the next stage of the proposed peace plan.
The UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is there, having flown in from Northern Ireland with her German opposite number.
Both ministers had been attending a meeting of foreign ministers from the Western Balkans at Hillsborough Castle.
The meeting in France involves France, Germany and the UK, known as the E3, plus Spain and is expected to last around two hours.
Representatives from what is known as the Arab Quint are also there - Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.
Parallels are being drawn by some in British diplomatic circles between President Trump’s 20-point peace plan and the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland.
Jonathan Powell, the British government’s national security adviser, was heavily involved in the negotiations that brought about the Good Friday Agreement, when he was former prime minister Tony Blair’s chief of staff.
Sir Tony is to sit on President Trump’s Board of Peace - part of the intended architecture of the peace plan.
Powell has been involved in talks in Egypt in recent days, which included how to prevent Hamas playing a role in Gaza's future.
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House
Image source, ReutersAt the cabinet meeting, Trump has now set his sights on Gaza's future, saying Gaza will be "slowly redone" by wealthy countries in the region.
"What they [those countries] make will do wonders for Gaza," he says. "There's tremendous spirit like I haven't seen."
He also describes the death toll in Gaza as "big retribution" for the 7 October attacks.
"October 7th was terrible, but also from the Hamas standpoint, they probably lost 70,000 people. That’s big retribution"
"But at some point, that whole thing has to stop," he says. "We're going to see to it."
So far, this has been something of a victory lap for Trump, who has taken time to praise the various US officials involved in the negotiations, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
Notably, Trump also says the US is willing to work with Iran in the future, describing his strike on Iranian nuclear facilities earlier this year as an important step that helped lead to the peace deal.
The cabinet meeting continues, but he has now moved on to domestic concerns.
Correction 10 February: An earlier version of this post suggested Mr Trump was talking about the civilian death toll. The post has been amended to make clear he did not distinguish between civilians and combatants, citing the probable overall death toll at 70,000.
More from Donald Trump now.
Trump says "everything came together" and the attack on Iran was "very important".
The US struck Iran's nuclear facilities in June.
"Iran wants to work on peace now, they have informed us. And they have acknowledged that they are totally in favour of this deal, they think it's a great thing," Trump says, adding they will work with Iran.
Trump says the remaining hostages should be released on "Monday or Tuesday".
Getting them is a complicated process, he says, adding "they are in places you don't want to be".
That will be a day of joy, he adds, saying he will try to make a trip there. "We're going to go to Egypt where we will have a signing," he says, explaining that one has already been done on his behalf but they are going to do an "official signing".
The US president said earlier that the hostages "will probably be released on Monday".
US President Donald Trump is now speaking at a cabinet meeting in the White House.
He says there was a momentous breakthrough in the Middle East last night. "We ended the war in Gaza and really on a much bigger basis created peace."
"I think it's going to be a lasting peace, hopefully an everlasting peace," he says.
Image source, ReutersDonald Trump speaks alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (R) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L)
Image source, EPAIsraeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has just been interviewed by Fox News Channel’s Jennifer Griffin.
He says a ceasefire will come into effect "immediately after" the deal is approved by the Israeli cabinet this evening, with a commitment for Hamas to release the remaining hostages within 72 hours.
"I believe that should bring the end to this war," he says.
As a reminder, Israeli media is reporting that the cabinet meeting is delayed to 20:00 local time (18:00 BST).
With Israel's government expcted to approve a ceasefire in Gaza later, Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has just landed in Israel, according to the BBC's US partner, CBS.
Witkoff is joined by Jared Kushner, Trump's son in law and former adviser.
Image source, ReutersJared Kushner (left) and Steve Witkoff, pictured in September 2025
The Israeli cabinet meeting to decide whether to approve the Gaza ceasefire deal has been delayed to 20:00 local time (18:00 BST), according to the country's public broadcaster, Kan.
An Israeli government spokesperson said earlier there would be cabinet and government meetings from 17:00 local time (15:00 BST).
Several Israeli media outlets are now reporting that the schedule set out by the spokesperson has been delayed.
We'll bring you an update when we have it.
Our experts are about to answer your questions about the possible Gaza ceasefire - watch live at the top of the page.
On the panel are presenters Matthew Amroliwala and Sumi Somaskanda, joined by BBC chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet and Gaza correspondent Rushdi Abualouf.
(Clockwise from top left) Matthew Amroliwala, Lyse Doucet, Sumi Somaskanda, and Rushdi Abualouf.
Fatima Hudoon
BBC News
Amal Albadla is a mother in Gaza whose youngest son was born on 7 October.
Earlier this morning, she shared her first reaction to the news of the deal.
Speaking to us from Mawasi Al Qarara in southern Gaza, she says: “I can’t believe I’m finally saying this, the war is finally over after two years of hunger, destruction and endless loss.”
“I can finally tell my boys: you’re safe now.”
But just hours after sending us her first reaction, she sent an update.
“The warplanes are still hovering over our heads, and I’m so scared actually," she says.
As we've been reporting, the Israel offensive in Gaza continues, as Israel's cabinet is yet to vote to confirm the deal.
Unrwa says it has got medicine and basic supplies ready, along with enough food for three months, and is urging key parties to help it bring the aid to Gaza.
UNCHA OPT says the organisation is “scaling up humanitarian operations in Gaza”.
WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the health organisation will “support rehabilitation of the destroyed health system”, adding that “the best medicine is peace”.
UK-Med Chief Executive David Wightwick says: “We welcome today’s tentative steps toward peace, after two relentless years of suffering.”
Save the Children Chief Executive Inger Ashing writes: “With bombs and bullets silenced, families will be able to think to the future, of rebuilding and recovering.”
Just a reminder - once the ceasefire deal is confirmed, Israel will allow 400 aid trucks to enter Gaza each day during the first five days, a senior Palestinian official has told the BBC.