Israel and Hamas Reach Gaza Ceasefire Agreement after 2 Years of War
The announcement of a ceasefire has brought hope among Palestinians in Gaza following two years of continuous bombardment; the devastation that remains is staggering.
Oct 9, 2025 / GMT+6
Israel and Hamas have officially agreed to a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the catastrophic two-year war in Gaza. The breakthrough came from Egypt under a 20-point peace plan led by U.S. President Donald Trump, marks a major turning point in the conflict that began with Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel.
US President Donald Trump initially announced the significant development in a social media post, saying that Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement on the initial phase of a ceasefire in Gaza.
Qatar, which plays a crucial role as a mediator in the ceasefire negotiations, has confirmed this progress, stating that an agreement has been achieved regarding "all the provisions and implementation mechanisms" of the first phase of the ceasefire plan.
HA Hellyer, an expert in Middle Eastern affairs and a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, informed Al Jazeera that the ceasefire came about due to the "United States choosing to apply its pressure, its strong diplomatic influence on the State of Israel." "Without that kind of pressure, I doubt we would be witnessing any of this," Hellyer remarked to Al Jazeera. "An additional factor is the pressure that has been applied on Hamas by nearly every ally or friendly nation... applying significant pressure on them to progress with this," Hellyer added.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has welcomed the agreement and urged that aid be permitted to enter Gaza following months of Israel's blockade and siege of the Palestinian territory.
Hamas has provided lists of Palestinian prisoners that it seeks to have released by Israel. Israel's security cabinet is scheduled to convene today to approve these lists along with the broader truce agreement.
The Israeli military has said that "in accordance with the instructions from the political echelon and based on the situational assessment, [the army] has initiated operational preparations in anticipation of implementing the agreement."
🕊️ Key Elements of the Deal
• Hostage-Prisoner Exchange: Hamas will release 20 living hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences. The swap is expected within 72 hours of implementation.
• Israeli Troop Withdrawal: Israel will pull back its forces to a designated line inside Gaza, pausing offensive operations.
• Humanitarian Aid Surge: The ceasefire will allow unrestricted aid convoys into Gaza, addressing what the UN has called a “humanitarian catastrophe.”
• Hamas Disarmament: Hamas is expected to gradually disarm as part of the broader peace framework.
🌍 International Involvement
• The deal was facilitated by mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, with senior U.S. envoys including Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff playing key roles.
• President Trump announced the agreement on social media, calling it a “GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, and the United States.”
📅 What’s Next?
• The Israeli cabinet is set to approve the deal imminently.
• Trump may travel to Egypt or Gaza this weekend to oversee the early stages of implementation.
This agreement is being hailed as the most promising step toward peace since the war began, though many details—like Gaza’s post-war governance—remain unresolved.
