The week around the world in 20 pictures

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 17:52:45 GMT

People watch a live broadcast of Israeli hostages released from Gaza at hostages square in Tel Aviv. Photograph: Oded Balilty/AP

Khan Younis, Gaza. Palestinians search the rubble of buildings amid widespread destruction in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. one week into the ceasefire, humanitarian agencies have warned, as Israel delays the entry of food convoys into the territory. The Israeli government and Hamas continue to over violations of the truce

Gaza City. Young Palestinian athletes perform parkour moves among the ruins of destroyed buildings in the al-Mughraqa area after the ceasefire in Gaza City. The athletes use their sport to draw attention to the destruction caused by Israeli attacks, showcasing acrobatic skills amid the rubble. The human cost of what the UN commission of inquiry recognises as a genocide is incalculable, but fewer are aware of

Gaza City. A woman checks her laundry in the Islamic University where many Palestinian families who were forced to migrate south due to Israeli attacks returned as the ceasefire took hold. The ceasefire deal raised hopes of a surge of humanitarian aid finally reaching the territory after two years of war, but most restrictions have remained in place,

Tel Aviv, Israel. People react as they gather to watch a live broadcast of Israeli hostages released from Gaza at a plaza known as ‘hostages square’ in Tel Aviv. after more than two years in captivity in Gaza. Parents were reunited with sons and children with fathers as those held were handed over to the Red Cross before finally rejoining their families with the help of the Israeli army

Ramat Gan, Israel. Ziv Berman, an Israeli hostage released from the Gaza Strip, gestures from the window of a helicopter landing at the Sheba medical centre in Ramat Gan. to an estimated 65,000 people gathered in Tel Aviv and to millions more watching the coverage at home

Kfar Saba, Israel. Mourners gather during a funeral for Tamir Nimrodi, an Israeli soldier who died in captivity in Gaza. Nimrodi was among the deceased hostages whose bodies were returned this week as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The return of 28 dead hostages was part of the agreement,

Valencia, Spain. A person is assisted after being injured during a protest outside of Roig Arena. Demonstrations against Israel’s policy toward Gaza were held before the EuroLeague basketball match between Valencia Basket and Hapoel Tel Aviv. Even as hopes rose last weekend of an end to the war, , which have been deemed a , remains raw, as evidenced by the

Chicago, Illinois, US. A US Customs and Border Protection agent detains a protester in East Side. from federalising or deploying the national guard in Illinois after Donald Trump ordered hundreds of troops to Chicago to help with immigration enforcement and to battle what the White House says are high crime rates in the city

Antananarivo, Madagascar. Members of the Malagasy gendarmerie take cover behind their shields amid teargas during clashes between demonstrators and security forces in protests calling for the resignation of President Andry Rajoelina in Antananarivo. On Monday in fear for his life after a military rebellion but did not announce his resignation, in a speech broadcast on social media from an undisclosed location

Antananarivo, Madagascar. Members of the Malagasy army ride on a pickup truck to secure the area around Lake Anosy as protesters celebrate their arrival. after announcing they would refuse any orders to shoot demonstrators

Mafeteng, Lesotho. Boys play outside of their homes after a day of work in Mafeteng

Nairobi, Kenya. Supporters and mourners of opposition leader Raila Odinga run for cover after gunshots were fired during a gathering for the public viewing of his coffin at the Kasarani Stadium, after Odinga’s death during a visit to India. after security forces fired shots and teargas to disperse the huge crowds

Donetsk, Ukraine. Ukrainian service personnel cover the road with a net to protect vehicles from drone attacks at an undisclosed location in Donetsk. on Thursday appeared to undercut Ukrainian hopes of receiving Tomahawk missiles as Volodymyr Zelenskyy headed to Washington to meet the US president and discuss the issue

Kostyantynivka, Ukraine. Destroyed residential buildings in the frontline town of Kostyantynivka, where about 5,500 people remain. Residents face daily air strikes, artillery fire and drone attacks, living without basic infrastructure, including water, electricity and gas supplies

Poza Rica, Mexico. Neighbours gather around a damaged house after heavy rainfall in Poza Rica. in central and eastern Mexico rose sharply to at least 64, with another 65 still missing

Poza Rica, Mexico. People wade through mud after severe flooding hit the town of Poza Rica. triggered landslides and swept away roads and bridges

Buxton, North Carolina, US. A reporter films in front of a house at risk of collapse in Buxton

Koluchin Island, Russia. A polar bear rests on steps at an abandoned research station on Koluchin Island

Lausanne, Switzerland. Competitors take part in the Vortex race near Lausanne. About 2,000 participants, mostly students, take part in this unique race which involves running up the 1.8-mile spiral passageway of the Vortex, an iconic eight-floor circular building of the campus of the University of Lausanne

Leek, England. A European tree frog, , once native to the UK, sits on a branch in an enclosure at Celtic Rewilding in Staffordshire. The small frog probably became extinct in the UK in the 16th or 17th century due to habitat loss and over-collection for medicinal purposes. Celtic Rewilding is working towards the reintroduction of three frog species – agile frogs, moor frogs, and European tree frogs – and the European pond turtle, all of which have become extinct in Britain due to pre-industrial human impact, land degradation and climate breakdown