Gaza ceasefire latest: Released British-Israeli hostage in 'much better condition' than expected; search for '10,000 bodies' begins (2025)

Key points
  • Follow latest updates on day two of the ceasefire in Gaza
  • Freed British hostage in 'much better condition' than expected|Emily Damari speaks of joy
  • Watch: Drone footage reveals scale of devastation in Gaza
  • Search for '10,000 bodies' begins
  • Palestinians celebrate as prisoners held by Israel return
  • 90 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel|Delays due to 'errors' with some names, Hamas says
  • Explained: What are the three phases of the ceasefire deal?
  • Listen to The World and tap hereto follow wherever you enjoy podcasts

15:40:01

That's all for now

We're now pausing this live coverage.

On the second day of the ceasefire in Gaza, freed Palestinian prisoners were reunited with families as a British-Israeli hostage spoke of her joy at being released.

In Gaza, there were celebrations as 90 prisoners returned, with pictures showing some embracing family members.

Meanwhile, freed British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari thanked God for returning her to her "beloved life", as her mother said her daughter was the "happiest girl in the world".

But there was also anguish among displaced Gazans returning to the ruins of their homes, with some expressing shock at the devastation - and images from the territory showing the scale of the destruction.

And though reports indicated the ceasefire was holding, medics told Reuters eight people had been hit by Israeli fire since Monday morning in the southern city of Rafah - a claim the Israeli military said it was checking - and the IDF said one of its soldiers had been killed in the West Bank.

Elsewhere, the UK's foreign secretary insisted Joe Biden and Donald Trump "acted together" to get the ceasefire agreed.

Thanks for following today's updates.

15:15:01

Watch: Gazans return after ceasefire begins

Palestinians in Gaza have been speaking of their relief after their first night without Israeli airstrikes since the flare up in violence 15 months ago.

Video showed families returning to the southern city of Rafah, many from Khan Younis.

"We were very happy on the first day of the ceasefire," said Fatma Hamad.

"It was a day without bombing, without drones.

"We are very tired of war and the destruction around us. The people of Rafah felt humiliated and displaced.

"We walked long distances. We were very afraid. We felt afraid for our loved ones.

"But thank God, we felt very good that we survived."

14:41:10

In pictures: Destroyed buildings in Gaza

While we have previously featured a number of videos and photographs that capture the current situation in Gaza, images continue to emerge that show the extent of the devastation.

New drone pictures from the territory show hundreds of buildings reduced to rubble.

13:58:00

Gazan girl who lost both legs under Israeli bombardment walks again after receiving treatment in US

By Mark Stone, US correspondent

Doctors in America have praised a three-year-old Gazan girl who is walking again just six months after losing both legs.

Rahaf Saed was fitted with her first prosthetic legs last Tuesday in Missouri after she was severely injured in an Israeli bombing of her home in Gaza in August.

She was among eight children who arrived in the US in early December after being granted US visas for specialist medical treatment.

Sky News has followedthe children's journeys of recovery and visited Rahaf a few weeks after she arrived with her mother.

On Tuesday, at Shriners Hospital in St Louis, Missouri, she showed off her walking skills with a broad smile.

"Watching her walk again was an indescribable feeling, I was so happy and proud of her," Rahaf's mother, Israa, told Sky News.

13:17:08

Gaza residents react to destruction as search for 10,000 bodies begins

Palestinian Emergency Services have said that a search was underway for thousands of Palestinians believed to be buried under rubble.

It came as Gaza's returning residents expressed shock at the devastation wrought by more than 15 months of conflict.

With the ceasefire in the conflict now into its second day, attention is starting to shift to the rebuilding of the coastal enclave.

"We are searching for 10,000 martyrs whose bodies remain under the rubble," said Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Emergency Services.

At least 2,840 bodies were melted and there were no traces of them, he said.

Displaced Gazan Mohamed Gomaa lost his brother and nephew in the war.

"It was a big shock, and the amount (of people) feeling shocked is countless because of what happened to their homes - it's destruction, total destruction. It's not like an earthquake or a flood, no no, what happened is a war of extermination," he said.

Medics told Reuters eight people had been hit by Israeli fire since Monday morning in the southern city of Rafah, without giving details of their condition.

The Israeli military said it was checking the reports.

Billions of pounds will be needed to rebuild Gaza after the war. A UN damage assessment released this month showed that clearing more than 50 million tonnes of rubble could take 21 years and cost almost £1bn.

The debris is believed to be contaminated with asbestos, with some refugee camps struck during the war known to have been built with the material.

Israel claimed its goal in the war was to eradicate Hamas and destroy the tunnel network it built underground.

12:45:01

More than 47,000 Palestinians killed, says Hamas-run health ministry

New figures released today by the Hamas-run health ministry indicate a total of 47,035 Palestinians have now been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since October 2023.

The ministry said another 111,091 had been injured.

The figures reported by the ministry do not differentiate between fighters and civilians.

While Israeli authorities have claimed the number of people killed is exaggerated, Western officials and rights groups have said they are likely to be reasonably accurate.

In fact, research published in the Lancet this month estimated the death toll in Gaza during the first nine months of the Israel-Hamas war was around 40% higher than numbers recorded by the Palestinian territory's health ministry.

Peer-reviewed statistical analysis was conducted by academics at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Yale University and other institutions.

It concluded that between October 2023 and the end of June last year, an estimated 64,260 deaths Palestinians died due to traumatic injury.

12:08:28

Palestinians shot by Israeli forces in Gaza - reports

While the ceasefire appears to be largely holding since it began yesterday morning, there are reports from Gaza that four Palestinians citizens have been injured after shots were fired by Israeli forces in Rafah, in the south of the territory.

Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that the IDF opened fire at citizens in the centre and south of the city, causing injuries to four citizens - including children, one of whom it said was seriously injured.

The IDF has not commented on the report.

11:20:34

Israeli soldier killed in the West Bank, says IDF

An Israeli soldier has been killed and another seriously wounded in the West Bank, the Israel Defence Forces has said.

The military did not provide further details, according to the Associated Press.

Israeli media reported that the soldiers' vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in the northern West Bank overnight.

Violence in the West Bank has escalated with frequent army raids on militant groups, rampages by Jewish settlers in Palestinian villages, and deadly Palestinian street attacks.

Hamas is not in charge in the West Bank.

11:10:22

Biden and Trump 'acted together' to get ceasefire agreed, says foreign secretary

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has insisted it was Donald Trump and Joe Biden "acting together" that got the Gaza ceasefire over the line.

He was asked why it took so long for Mr Trump and his new Middle East envoy to bring about the ceasefire.

Mr Lammy said: "Diplomacy is often failing until it succeeds. Last week, when we got that ceasefire, it was a success.

"I think it was important that Donald Trump and Joe Biden were able to act together to get this over the line.

"It says something about bipartisan spirit, and in a sense, all of us now must roll up our sleeves to take on this most intractable of problems, a problem that's gone on now for almost 80 years.

"And to get that political horizon that brings peace and opportunity to the wider Middle East."

10:48:20

In pictures: Hamas police stand guard on streets of Gaza

It's the second day of the Gaza ceasefire, and so far, it seems to be holding.

On the streets of the destroyed enclave, Hamas police have been deployed to maintain order.

Surrounding them is the rubble of destroyed buildings, and locals attempting to get back to life as normal.

Gaza ceasefire latest: Released British-Israeli hostage in 'much better condition' than expected; search for '10,000 bodies' begins (2025)
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