In a moment that many hope will mark a turning point for the Middle East, a historic ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was signed on October 13, 2025, at a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The deal, brokered by US President Donald Trump alongside key regional and global leaders, brought a halt to over two years of devastating conflict in Gaza. Yet, as the ink dries on the so-called "Trump Peace Agreement," the path forward remains fraught with complexity, uncertainty, and deep-seated pain on all sides.
According to CNN, the summit drew an unprecedented array of participants: world leaders from over two dozen countries, the Arab League secretary general, and senior diplomats from the United Nations and European Union. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, a chief mediator, called it a "unique, perhaps last, historic opportunity to achieve a Middle East free of anything that threatens its stability and progress." Trump, for his part, heralded the deal as "the dawn of a new Middle East," emphasizing a vision of hope, security, and prosperity for the region. Yet, when pressed about US support for a Palestinian state, Trump demurred: "I’m not talking about single state or double state or two state, we’re talking about the rebuilding of Gaza. A lot of people like the one-state solution. Some people like the two-state solutions. We’ll have to see."
The agreement’s first phase—already underway—centered on a sweeping exchange of captives and prisoners. As reported by BBC and CBS News, Hamas released the 20 remaining living Israeli hostages, as well as the bodies of four deceased hostages, in return for Israel freeing 250 Palestinian prisoners serving long or life sentences and over 1,700 detainees arrested from Gaza during the war, many of whom had been held without charge for two years. The emotional reunions played out on both sides: Israeli hostages, some separated from family for years, were greeted with tears and embraces in hospitals across Israel. In Gaza and the occupied West Bank, freed Palestinian detainees arrived by bus to jubilant crowds, even as the scars of captivity and conflict lingered.
But not all returns were joyous. Al Jazeera and Truthout highlighted the plight of at least 154 Palestinians released from Israeli prisons who, instead of going home, were forced into exile—deported to Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Turkey, or other unknown countries. Legal experts and human rights monitors condemned the move as a violation of international law. Lima Bustami of Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor wrote, “Forcing Palestinian prisoners into exile in Gaza or abroad as a release condition, or expelling them post-detention, is a war crime under international law. This is exile, not freedom.” Tamer Qarmout, a policy professor at the Doha Institute, told Al Jazeera, “It is illegal because these are citizens of Palestine. They have no other citizenships. They’re out of a small prison, but they’re sent to a bigger prison, away from their society, to new countries in which they will face major restrictions. It’s inhumane.”
Meanwhile, the return of deceased hostages has become a flashpoint. On October 14, Israeli hostage families confirmed the identities of three of four bodies handed over by Hamas, according to the Hostages Families Forum cited by BBC. Scientists continue to work to identify the fourth. The remains of 45 dead Palestinians held in Israel were also returned to Gaza. Yet, as Hamas has struggled to locate all the bodies of Israeli hostages, Israel has threatened to restrict humanitarian aid until the remains of all 28 hostages are returned. “Any delay or deliberate avoidance will be considered a gross violation of the agreement and will be responded to accordingly,” Israel’s defense minister warned.
Humanitarian concerns remain acute. The ceasefire agreement stipulated that Israel would allow 600 aid trucks per day into Gaza, but on October 14, Israel told the United Nations it would only permit 300, and the vital Rafah crossing would remain closed until all bodies were returned, as reported by Al Jazeera and BBC. Cogat, the Israeli military body overseeing aid, stated, “Humanitarian aid will not pass through the Rafah crossing. No such agreement has been reached at any stage.” This has left Gaza’s battered population—already enduring catastrophic loss and displacement—facing continued shortages of food, medicine, and basic necessities. Hani Almadhoun, a Palestinian American aid worker, told CNN, “The bar is so low now. It doesn’t take much to make the Palestinians smile.”
Despite the ceasefire, violence has not fully abated. On October 14, Israeli forces reportedly killed nine Palestinians in Gaza, including five in a drone strike in Shejaiya and two in Khan Younis, according to Palestinian Civil Defence and Wafa news agency. The Israeli military claimed it opened fire after people crossed a designated "yellow line". At the same time, Hamas fighters, asserting control in Gaza, executed eight Palestinians in public, sparking fear and outrage among residents. Hamas maintains these actions are to restore security and “eliminate lawlessness,” but many worry they are settling scores and silencing critics. Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, condemned the ongoing violence, stating, “Ceasefire according to Israel=‘you cease, I fire.’ Calling it ‘peace’ is both an insult and a distraction.”
The broader context remains sobering. The war, triggered by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023—resulting in 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages—has, according to Gaza’s health ministry, left at least 67,869 Palestinians dead from Israeli military operations. The scars of war run deep, and the ceasefire, while significant, is fragile and incomplete. Many Palestinians fear that delays in returning hostages’ bodies or renewed violence could derail the agreement and ignite another round of conflict. As Gaza’s future governance, the disarmament of Hamas, and the possible formation of a Palestinian state remain unresolved, the region stands at a crossroads.
International leaders are watching closely. Former President Bill Clinton, in a statement after the summit, said, “Israel and Hamas must try to turn this fragile moment into lasting peace that provides for the dignity and security of both Palestinians and Israelis.” President Joe Biden expressed “deep relief and gratitude” for the release of hostages and the ceasefire, emphasizing the need for a future of “equal measures of peace, dignity, and safety.” Egyptian President el-Sisi called on Israelis to “make this historic moment a new beginning for a life governed by justice and peaceful coexistence.”
As phase two of the peace plan begins—focused on disarming Hamas and establishing a transitional governance structure in Gaza—the world waits to see whether this fragile truce will hold, and whether the region can move from a moment of hope to a reality of lasting peace.