News
In the early hours of October 9, the Israeli cabinet approved a U.S.-brokered plan mediated by President Donald Trump to halt the war in Gaza and secure the release of hostages.
The agreement calls for a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of all hostages held by Hamas. It also includes the release of approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and the reopening of humanitarian aid routes into Gaza.
The ceasefire took effect immediately after cabinet approval. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced it had begun the first phase of withdrawal to the agreed “withdrawal line.” According to reports from PBS and CBS, Israeli forces have already pulled back from parts of central and southern Gaza, maintaining control over roughly half of the territory.
Meanwhile, residents who had fled northern Gaza have begun returning to their homes. Within hours of the ceasefire taking effect, tens of thousands of displaced people reportedly made their way back to devastated neighborhoods. However, sporadic shelling continues in certain areas, suggesting that a full cessation of hostilities will take time.
The ceasefire deal involves mediation by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, and future negotiations are expected to focus on establishing an international monitoring mission, a reconstruction framework, and determining who will govern Gaza after the war.
Background
As discussed in a previous article, the Israeli–Palestinian conflict is not merely a modern political struggle but a story of land and faith stretching back thousands of years.
From the fall of the ancient Kingdom of Israel and the Jewish Diaspora to the rise of Zionism in the 19th century, the 1948 establishment of the State of Israel and the First Arab–Israeli War set the stage for today’s divisions.
During the Cold War, Israel became Washington’s most important ally in the Middle East, while Palestinian politics fractured between two rival entities:
- The Palestinian Authority (PLO), governing the West Bank
- The Hamas movement, which seized control of Gaza and continues to oppose Israel through armed resistance
This internal division has long been one of the greatest obstacles to peace.
From the 2023 Hamas Attack to the 2025 Ceasefire
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale surprise attack on southern Israel, killing over 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages.
Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground invasion aimed at dismantling Hamas, which led to severe civilian casualties and the near-total collapse of Gaza’s infrastructure.
The UN estimates that over 80% of Gaza’s population has been displaced, with shortages of electricity, water, and medical care.
Global opinion split sharply — between those condemning Hamas’s terrorism and those criticizing Israel’s “disproportionate” response — deepening international polarization.
Throughout 2024 and 2025, the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar attempted to broker multiple ceasefires, but each round failed. Hamas insisted it would not release hostages without a formal declaration ending the war, while Israel refused to halt operations without Hamas’s disarmament.
The breakthrough finally came on October 9, 2025, when the Israeli cabinet approved Trump’s latest proposal, including a phased withdrawal, hostage release, prisoner exchange, and an international monitoring framework.
Hamas still demands a formal end-of-war declaration, and the precise wording of that document is now under negotiation.
Global Reactions
Many observers expressed cautious optimism:
“There’s still a chance this could fall apart — but I didn’t think it would even get this far.”
“Looking at the past two decades, this might only be a 2–4 year ceasefire — still, that’s real progress.”
“A long-term peace deal? Maybe 3% chance at best. But that 3% is what I’ll pray for.”
“Let’s see if it lasts even a month before we start talking about years.”
“If this goes smoothly, it could finally bring peace. But Hamas keeps adding conditions.”
“Hostages released, war basically over — let’s hope it stays that way.”
“It’s the right decision. Peace feels close.”
“How long will it last — five minutes?”
“This all depends on Hamas. If they don’t release the hostages and disarm, it’s a breach.”
“Disarmament? That’ll never happen.”
“Even if Hamas ends this fight, other militant groups might take up arms again.”
“Decades of hatred don’t disappear overnight. We’ll see another war in our lifetime.”
“If peace lasted even a few decades, that’d be a miracle.”
“Five to eight years at best.”
“Give it a few months — Hamas will be firing rockets again.”
“Maybe even four days.”
“It might not even be Hamas next time. Gaza has multiple armed groups, any one of which could spark a new war.”
“Hamas is just one offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood — the real issue is political Islam, and that won’t die with Hamas.”
Analysis — A Fragile Peace and Lingering Ideology
The central question: Is this a truce or the end of the war?
Israel views this agreement as a temporary suspension of operations, not the final end of hostilities.
Hamas, however, insists on a formal declaration ending the war before releasing hostages — a deep divergence that may undermine the deal.
The other major question concerns governance: who will rule Gaza after Hamas?
The U.S. and Egypt are reportedly pushing to restore the Palestinian Authority’s control, while Saudi Arabia and Jordan have signaled willingness to support reconstruction.
Inside Israel, however, many right-wing politicians still advocate for reoccupation, putting Netanyahu’s government in a tight domestic bind.
The ideology won’t vanish
Even if Hamas’s military capacity collapses, its ideology — rooted in social, religious, and welfare networks — is likely to survive underground.
This makes the movement more than a mere militant group; it’s a social structure that can regenerate.
In Gaza, smaller factions such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad and various independent groups could reignite violence out of frustration or rivalry.
History shows that “left-out actors” often sabotage peace efforts immediately after ceasefires.
Moreover, Gaza’s capacity to rebuild homemade weapons from basic materials means rearmament could resume quickly.
This makes any ceasefire inherently fragile — peace will depend more on reconstruction and reconciliation than on deterrence.
Conclusion — Not an End, but a Beginning
This ceasefire marks an important turning point after nearly two years of war, but it does not yet signify true peace.
The priorities now are hostage release and humanitarian recovery.
If these succeed, Hamas’s “justification for resistance” will fade.
If they fail, the vacuum of despair will once again empower extremists.
Ultimately, the outcome will be determined not by military strength but by the speed and fairness of humanitarian aid and reconstruction.
Restoring access to food, housing, education, and healthcare will be the surest path to lasting peace.
Whether the world acts quickly and fairly will decide if this is the end of a war — or merely the start of another cycle.
See you again in the next article.
References
- AP News – Israel cabinet approves ceasefire plan proposed by Trump
- CBS News – Israel begins first phase of Gaza withdrawal after ceasefire approval
- PBS NewsHour – Displaced Gazans begin returning to shattered communities as ceasefire takes effect
- Al Jazeera – Hamas gets guarantees of end to Gaza war as Israel approves ceasefire
- The Washington Post – Two years since the Gaza war began: What has changed
- ACLED – Gaza after two years: Israel expands control and Hamas adapts to survive
- Reuters – Major moments in Israel-Gaza war 2023–2025
- Council on Foreign Relations – Global Conflict Tracker: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
- Al Jazeera – Timeline: The path to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal in Gaza
