Israel and Hamas Agree to First Phase of Gaza Ceasefire Deal

What the Deal Entails

The agreement focuses on immediate steps to de-escalate the violence that has gripped Gaza since late 2023. Hamas is set to release hostages captured during its initial attack on Israel, starting with about 20 living individuals as early as this weekend. In return, Israel will free a large number of Palestinian detainees, some of whom have been held for years on security charges. Troops will retreat to agreed positions, easing the military presence in parts of Gaza. This phase also ties into broader ideas like Hamas stepping back from ruling the area and international oversight for rebuilding.

Background on the Gaza-Israel Conflict

The roots of tension between Israel and Gaza go back decades, but the current war kicked off on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a surprise assault on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and taking over 250 hostages. Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground offensive, aiming to dismantle Hamas’s capabilities. Over the past two years, this has led to widespread destruction in Gaza, with local health officials reporting more than 67,000 Palestinian deaths, many of them women and children, alongside massive displacement and shortages of food and medicine. The conflict has drawn in regional players and sparked global debates, with some viewing Israel’s actions as self-defense and others labeling them as excessive or even genocidal.

Reactions and Next Steps

Leaders like Trump have called it a “great day” for peace, crediting mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to get cabinet approval soon, while Hamas has urged quick action to ensure aid flows in. However, past ceasefires have collapsed, so many are watching closely for signs of follow-through.

In a move that could signal the beginning of the end for one of the most destructive conflicts in recent Middle East history, Israel and Hamas have come to terms on the first phase of a ceasefire deal for Gaza. Announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on October 8, 2025, this agreement comes after intense indirect negotiations in Egypt, involving key mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, along with U.S. figures like Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff. The deal aims to halt the fighting that has ravaged Gaza for two years, but as with any step in this long-running dispute, questions linger about whether it will stick or unravel like previous attempts.

The announcement has sparked a mix of hope and caution across the region and beyond. Trump, posting on his social media platform Truth Social, described it as a “historic and unprecedented event,” emphasizing that all hostages would be released soon and that Israel would pull back its troops to an agreed line. He praised the mediators and quoted the Bible, saying, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed the positivity, calling it a “great day for Israel” and vowing to bring all hostages home with divine help. From Hamas’s side, officials expressed optimism but stressed the need for Israel to fully commit, including allowing aid into Gaza and ensuring a complete withdrawal over time.

To understand why this matters, let’s step back and look at the broader picture of the Gaza-Israel conflict. The tensions trace back over a century, but the spark for the current war was Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. That day, militants crossed the border, targeting communities and a music festival, killing about 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and abducting 251 others as hostages. It was the deadliest single day for Israel since its founding in 1948. In response, Israel launched a massive military operation, including airstrikes and ground invasions, with the stated goal of eliminating Hamas’s threat. The campaign has been fierce, leading to over 67,000 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza’s health ministry, which is run by Hamas. Entire neighborhoods have been flattened, hospitals and schools destroyed, and more than 2 million people—nearly all of Gaza’s population—displaced into crowded tent camps, often near the Egyptian border. Aid restrictions imposed by Israel have worsened shortages, pushing parts of Gaza toward famine.

This war didn’t happen in a vacuum. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has deep historical roots, starting from the late 19th century when Jewish immigration to the region increased amid rising anti-Semitism in Europe. After World War II and the Holocaust, the United Nations in 1947 proposed partitioning British-controlled Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, but Arabs rejected it, leading to Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948 and the first Arab-Israeli war. Over the decades, wars in 1967 and 1973 reshaped borders—Israel captured Gaza from Egypt in 1967 and held it until withdrawing settlers in 2005. Hamas, a Sunni Islamist group founded in 1987 during the first Palestinian uprising (Intifada), took control of Gaza in 2007 after winning elections and ousting rivals from the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority. Since then, Gaza has been under blockade by Israel and Egypt, citing security concerns over rocket attacks and militancy. Periodic flare-ups have occurred, but none as prolonged or deadly as this one.

The human cost has been staggering on both sides. For Israelis, the trauma of the initial attack and the ongoing hostage crisis— with families waiting for news of loved ones—has fueled national unity but also internal divisions over how to handle the war. In Gaza, the destruction is apocalyptic: most homes, businesses, and infrastructure lie in ruins, and international reports highlight severe humanitarian crises. A UN commission in September 2025 concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, a charge Israel strongly denies, framing its actions as necessary self-defense against terrorism. Meanwhile, the conflict has spilled over, involving exchanges with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi attacks from Yemen, and tensions with Iran, which backs Hamas and other groups.

Now, turning to the details of this new deal. The first phase is built around a 21-point plan Trump outlined last week. It starts with the hostage-prisoner swap: Hamas is to free nearly 50 remaining hostages (down from 251, with many already released or killed in prior deals or operations), including both living and dead. Reports indicate an initial batch of 20 living hostages could be out by the weekend. On Israel’s end, nearly 2,000 Palestinians will be released, including high-profile names like Marwan al-Barghouti, a Fatah leader serving life sentences for attacks on Israelis, and Ahmed Saadat of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. This is a shift, as such figures were off-limits in past talks.

Troop withdrawals are another core element. Israel will pull back to “agreed-upon lines,” meaning a partial retreat for now, with full removal tied to later phases as the ceasefire holds. Hamas has pushed for a clear timeline and guarantees of complete exit, rejecting any ongoing occupation. The deal also requires Hamas to disarm and relinquish its governing role in Gaza—a major concession that Hamas has resisted, arguing it won’t lay down arms while under threat. In place, a transitional committee of “qualified Palestinians and international experts” would take over, supervised by an international “Board of Peace” chaired by Trump himself. This board would handle reconstruction, which experts say could take years given the scale of damage. There’s a nod to a “credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood,” but details are thin, and Israeli leaders like Netanyahu have historically opposed a full Palestinian state.

Implementation won’t be easy. The talks in Sharm el-Sheikh wrapped up after seven hours with Hamas, and mediators are now finalizing with Israel. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that things are moving positively but cautioned, “We’ve been here before and been disappointed.” Past efforts, like a January 2025 truce that fell apart in March, highlight the risks. Skeptics point to unresolved issues: Who governs Gaza long-term? Will Arab states fund rebuilding without statehood guarantees? And can disarmament happen without trust? On social media, reactions range from celebrations in Gaza streets to doubts about U.S. and Israeli honesty, with some users recalling broken deals.

Looking ahead, Netanyahu is set to convene his cabinet on October 9 to ratify the deal, and Trump has floated a trip to the Middle East, possibly including Gaza, to push things forward. Parallel discussions in Paris will tackle post-war transitions. If it holds, this could ease suffering, boost aid, and open doors to wider peace, perhaps even involving Iran as Trump hinted. But history shows these conflicts are layered with grievances—land, security, identity—and one phase won’t erase them all.

To break it down further, here’s a table outlining the key elements of the first phase based on reports:

Element	Details	Involved Parties
Hostage Release	Hamas to free ~50 hostages (living and dead), starting with 20 alive this weekend	Hamas, Israel, Mediators (Egypt, Qatar, Turkey)
Prisoner Exchange	Israel to release ~2,000 Palestinians, including leaders like Marwan al-Barghouti	Israel, Hamas
Troop Withdrawal	Partial pullback to agreed lines; full exit in later phases	Israel
Disarmament & Governance	Hamas to disarm and step away from ruling Gaza; transitional committee formed	Hamas, International Board (chaired by Trump)
Aid & Reconstruction	Increased supplies of food/medicine; long-term rebuilding oversight	International community, Arab states
Pathway to Statehood	Vague commitment to Palestinian self-determination	U.S., Israel, Palestinians

This table captures the core of what’s been agreed, though exact numbers and timelines could shift as details emerge.

In the end, while this deal offers a glimmer of relief after so much loss, its success depends on goodwill from all sides. The people of Gaza and Israel have endured enough—here’s hoping this is a real turning point.

Key Points:

• Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement on the initial stage of a U.S.-brokered plan to halt fighting in Gaza, potentially paving the way for hostage releases and troop withdrawals, though timelines and full implementation remain uncertain.
• It seems likely that the deal involves Hamas freeing around 50 hostages (some living, some deceased) in exchange for Israel releasing up to 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including prominent figures, while Israel pulls back forces to predefined lines.
• The evidence leans toward this being a breakthrough after two years of intense conflict, but controversy persists over whether it will hold, given past failed truces and ongoing debates about Gaza’s future governance and Palestinian rights.
• Both sides have expressed optimism, with U.S. President Donald Trump highlighting it as a step toward lasting peace, though critics note potential hurdles like disarmament demands on Hamas and vague paths to statehood.

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