Israel and Hamas have reached a phase-one ceasefire agreement on October 9, 2025, marking the first concrete step toward ending the devastating two-year war in Gaza.
The agreement, signed in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, was mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, with U.S. President Donald Trump personally brokering the final breakthrough. Under the terms, Israel will begin a partial withdrawal of troops from densely populated areas in Gaza, while Hamas has committed to releasing the remaining hostages held since the October 2023 escalation.
In exchange, Israel will release a number of Palestinian prisoners, though it has excluded political figure Marwan Barghouti from the list, sparking debate among Palestinian factions. The ceasefire also paves the way for immediate humanitarian aid deliveries, with hundreds of trucks expected to enter Gaza carrying food, water, and medicine for civilians who have endured months of siege.
The truce is set to take effect once Israel’s cabinet gives formal approval, after which a 72-hour timeline will begin for hostage exchanges and aid deliveries. President Trump hailed the deal as “historic,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “a step forward without compromising Israel’s security.”
Despite celebrations across Gaza and Israel, skepticism remains high. Analysts caution that deeper political disagreements — including the governance of Gaza, the future of Hamas, and reconstruction — still threaten the durability of the agreement.
