The ceasefire negotiations over the Israel-Gaza war and first celebrations of peace dominate Friday’s papers. Metro goes with “peace within reach at last” to mark the “dramatic breakthrough in the Middle East”. The agreement comes after “indirect talks in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh”. US President Donald Trump thinks it will be “a lasting peace, hopefully an everlasting peace”, the paper writes.
“‘We have peace in the Middle East’,” heralds The Daily Telegraph. The quote from Trump tops the paper along with a picture of the man himself grinning in the Oval Office. Also on its front page, the NHS is in a “state of emergency”, according to doctors. In another story, the paper follows up the fallout from the collapsed case of two men accused of spying for China. It says that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, “suppressed a major Whitehall investigation into Chinese spying after lobbying from the Treasury”. Treasury officials had said “comprehensive” analysis of China’s influence in Britain “could damage trade and investment links”, according to The Telegraph.
The Financial Times also leads with the Middle East, saying “Israel and Hamas agree to first phase of US-led ceasefire plan for Gaza war”. In Gaza, people “cheered on the rubble-strewn streets” and in Israel “tears of joy erupted” in Hostages’ Square. Elsewhere, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is “to accept senior advisory roles at Microsoft and AI start-up Anthropic”.
For The Guardian it is “celebrations after Hamas and Israel agree first phase of deal”. It notes that Trump has said the hostages could be released by “Monday or Tuesday”. The paper also features the news of former Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood having been charged with four counts of rape. The 68-year-old has also been charged with nine counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault. The charges relate to seven women.
The i Paper is topped by the “ceasefire deal for Gaza” which will “begin within 24 hours of cabinet approval”. Israel is “to withdraw troops and hostages set for release”, it writes as “world leaders express hope”. Meanwhile, Iran has warned the international community to “remain vigilant against ‘deception and breach of commitments’ by Israel”.
It is “a moment of shared hope” for the Daily Mirror as it shares parallel photos of children atop shoulders in Gaza and Tel Aviv. It notes the “relief, tears and cautious optimism” that come “after two years of unrelenting horror”.
Photos of “thrilled crowds” in Gaza and Israel lead the Daily Express as they “unite in celebrating” “Trump’s peace”. A woman is pictured flinging her arms open in Israel and a young boy holds his arms in the air in Gaza amongst a crowd.
The Mail praises Trump’s Middle East diplomacy by declaring “blessed is the peacemaker” while “virtue-signalling liberals” like Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are dubbed “utterly pointless”. A snap of a woman holding a baby is accompanied by her tale. “Friends are horrified that I breastfed my grandchildren”, she is quoted as saying, but “I don’t regret it one bit”.
The Times echoes most fronts with “Trump celebrates art of the ‘everlasting peace’ deal”. Catherine, Princess of Wales, also makes its top stories as she “picks up pen to warn of dangers of screen time”. The paper also reports that parents who were jailed over the deaths of their babies are appealing against their convictions after “doubt cast on ‘shaken baby’ expert”. Forensic expert Professor David Mangham is now the subject of a General Medical Council inquiry, the paper says.
The Sun is topped by an “exclusive” on “Posh on marriage”. Lady Beckham is quoted as saying her husband Sir David is “smart, good-looking and funny.. but even David Beckham snores!”
The Daily Star headlines on Madeleine McCann’s sister Amelie who has told of her “stalker hell” in an ongoing court case. Two women are on trial accused of stalking the parents of Madeleine, who disappeared on 3 May 2007 in Portugal. On Gaza, the paper describes the situation as a “fragile peace”.
