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Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Thursday, including Israel and Hamas signing off on a US-proposed Gaza deal, Hamas saying it agrees to the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan, Israel’s prime minister saying he will convene the government Thursday to approve the Gaza deal, and the Israeli Navy attacking a vessel of the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla Coalition in international waters
TOP STORIES
US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas signed off on the first phase of a US-proposed Gaza deal.
"I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan.
"This means that all of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a strong, durable, and everlasting peace," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
All parties will be "treated fairly," he added.
The Palestinian group Hamas announced that it has agreed to the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan, appreciating his efforts along with those of Türkiye, Qatar and Egypt.
“Hamas announces that an agreement has been reached providing for an end to the war on Gaza, the withdrawal of the occupiers, the entry of humanitarian aid, and a prisoner exchange,” it said in a statement on Telegram.
“We greatly appreciate the efforts of our mediator brothers in Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye. We also commend the efforts of US President Donald Trump, which aim for a final end to the war and the complete withdrawal of the occupying Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip,” the statement added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will convene the government on Thursday to approve an agreement reached on Gaza.
"A great day for Israel," Netanyahu said on the US social media company X’s platform.
His remarks came right after US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas have signed off on the first phase of a US-proposed Gaza deal.
Netanyahu thanked Trump and his team for their "dedication to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages."
The Israeli Navy attacked a ship of the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla Coalition in international waters.
A livestream on the coalition’s YouTube channel showed several Israeli soldiers raiding the Gaza Sunbird.
Israel’s Channel 13 said earlier that the Israeli army was preparing to attack the flotilla.
NEWS IN BRIEF
SPORTS
Reactions against Israel are growing in various Spanish sports clubs, with some refusing to allow Israeli teams to use their facilities or postponing their matches.
According to a report by Catalan radio station RAC1, Barcelona responded negatively to the Israeli team Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem's request to use the Blaugrana Hall facilities in the morning before their EuroCup match against Baxi Manresa on Oct. 15 at the Nou Congost arena, citing public order concerns.
RAC1 announced that Barcelona did not open its doors to the Israeli team “on grounds of logistics and public order.”
Meanwhile, Spain's State Commission Against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sports declared the Baxi Manresa-Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem match a “high risk.”
The commission called on Baxi Manresa, as the organizing club, to “take the necessary steps to strengthen security measures.”
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
The Japanese yen fell to an eight-month low of 152 per US dollar, as concerns over Japan’s fiscal health grew and expectations for an interest rate increase by the Bank of Japan weakened.
The yen traded around 152.4 against the US dollar, down about 0.3% as of 0820GMT.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 ended a four-day winning streak, slipping 0.45% to 47,734.99 points as investors locked in profits after the index closed at a record high the previous day.
The yen’s slide deepened after Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Sanae Takaichi, a fiscal dove who favors loose monetary policy, was elected party leader and is expected to become prime minister later this month, according to Kyodo News.
Major steel producers in Europe saw their shares climb after the European Commission announced a plan to protect the European steel industry, while auto shares posted declines.
Shares of Swedish steel producer SSAB rose 3.7% as of 1130GMT, Germany’s Thyssenkrupp gained over 5.4%, and Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal climbed 4.4%.
Stocks in Austrian Voestalpine Group posted a 1.5% rise, and German Salzgitter Group rose 3%.
The climb in the steel stocks followed the European Commission’s Tuesday announcement that it plans to raise steel tariffs and sharply cut import quotas, seeking to offer “strong and permanent protection” to the EU’s steel industry.
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