Across India and around the world, the recent ceasefire announcement in Gaza has spurred a wave of hope, skepticism, and renewed activism as the region reels from two years of devastating conflict. The ceasefire, declared on Monday, October 13, 2025, by U.S. President Donald Trump, follows a period marked by staggering loss—over 67,000 Palestinians killed, 169,000 wounded, and millions displaced since the war began in 2023, according to Palestinian health authorities and reporting by Al Jazeera and Prism.
On the streets of India, thousands joined protests during the week of October 6 to October 12, 2025, demanding an end to Israeli hostilities and urging their government to cut ties with what demonstrators called the "genocidal regime" in Israel. These mobilizations, led by major left parties such as the Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI, and CPI (M-L) Liberation, as well as student and women’s organizations, were not without incident. In Hyderabad on October 8, at least eight student activists were detained after resisting an assault by right-wing groups, with police allegedly participating in the disruption and attempting to confiscate banners and Palestinian flags. A day prior, the Telangana state secretary of the CPI (M), John Wesley, and others were arrested during a solidarity march.
Protests also erupted at Delhi University, where student-led rallies faced attacks from right-wing factions. Despite these challenges, the Student Federation of India (SFI) launched an ambitious campaign: 18,000 demonstrations nationwide between October 8 and 15, commemorating the estimated 18,000 Palestinian children killed since 2023. "The Palestinian struggle for self-determination is a struggle which cannot be killed, irrespective of the military and economic means applied," declared Amarjeet Kaur, a leader of the CPI, at a gathering in Delhi. She criticized India’s deepening military and economic ties with Israel, noting that India now purchases more than 48% of all Israeli weapons exports—a development she called "shameful and dangerous."
In Chennai, Tamil Nadu’s capital, CPI (M) state secretary P Shanmugam and Chief Minister M K Stalin addressed a large crowd, highlighting the U.S. role in arming Israel and obstructing effective United Nations action. The speakers underscored what they saw as a betrayal of India’s anti-colonial legacy, with Arun Kumar of the CPI (M) calling for a complete boycott of Israel and questioning whether the new ceasefire would hold: "There cannot be a real peace in the region until a separate and independent Palestinian state is created," he told attendees.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, the ceasefire brought a complex mix of relief and heartbreak. The deal, brokered by the U.S. and other mediators, included the release of the 20 remaining Israeli hostages and the freeing of over 1,700 Palestinian prisoners. It also called for the "full entry of humanitarian aid and relief" and a withdrawal of Israeli troops to new lines—though roughly half of Gaza remains under Israeli control. For many, the announcement offered a glimmer of hope after years of relentless bombardment, but trust in its durability was low. As Palestinian journalist Saleh Aljafarawi was killed during ongoing clashes with Israeli-backed militias, and Israel reportedly violated the ceasefire by killing at least seven Palestinians on October 14, skepticism deepened.
Personal stories from Gaza paint a picture of staggering loss and resilience. Israa Shahada, a nurse who lost nearly her entire family and home, told Prism, "I’m relieved the bloodshed has stopped. But there is also a completely different feeling: deep pain and a lump in my heart because the dearest people I had are gone. I miss them so much." Others, like retired teacher Hani Al-Na’san, expressed cautious optimism: "The best part of Trump’s plan is that it doesn’t mention transfer, displacement, or occupation. We’ve had enough wars—every day of these two years felt like a year. What we witnessed is incomprehensible; death has become ordinary."
Yet, the ceasefire’s fragility was immediately apparent. On October 14, Israel notified the United Nations it would allow only 300 aid trucks daily into Gaza—half the number previously agreed. The Rafah border crossing with Egypt, which was supposed to be reopened, remained closed, and no fuel or gas would be permitted except for specific humanitarian needs. "Three hundred is not enough. It’s not going to change anything," Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud reported from Gaza City, echoing concerns from UN and UNICEF officials who said at least 600 trucks a day were needed to meet basic needs. The World Health Organization stressed the urgency of delivering medical supplies to overwhelmed hospitals. "We need really to bring as many supplies as we can right now to make sure that those health workers who are still providing healthcare have what they need," said WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic.
Under the ceasefire’s terms, Hamas and Israel exchanged captives: nearly 2,000 Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails were released, along with 20 Israeli captives held in Gaza. Some 154 prisoners were exiled to Egypt. However, delays in returning the remains of deceased Israeli captives led to further tensions. President Trump, on his Truth Social platform, posted, "THE DEAD HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED, AS PROMISED! Phase Two begins right NOW!!!" Hamas stated that recovering the bodies was hampered by the destruction across Gaza.
Internationally, activists and Palestinian diaspora communities responded with a mix of relief and wariness. In Chicago, a rally on October 9 celebrated the ceasefire but warned against complacency. "We don’t trust Trump and Israel as far as we can throw them," said Hatem Abudayyeh of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, referencing Israel’s history of ceasefire violations. Ahmad Abuznaid, executive director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action, called for unrestricted aid, full Israeli withdrawal, and accountability for war crimes: "Justice is just a word when genocide gets a free pass."
Despite the ceasefire, violence and hardship persist. On October 14, Israeli forces killed at least nine Palestinians in Gaza, including six in Gaza City and three in Khan Younis, according to Al Jazeera. Reports from al-Ahli Arab Hospital indicated five were killed in the Shujayea neighborhood. The Israeli military claimed it opened fire to address perceived threats, but the attacks, coupled with aid restrictions, have left many doubting the ceasefire’s longevity.
For those in Gaza and their supporters worldwide, the struggle for justice and recovery is far from over. As aid convoys wait at the border and families mourn their losses, the world watches—hoping this fragile pause in violence might finally be the beginning of something better.