As the sun rose over Jerusalem on October 6, 2025, a rare sense of anticipation hung in the air. For the first time in nearly two years, there was a glimmer of hope that the bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas could finally be drawing to a close. Delegations from Israel, Hamas, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar converged on Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, ready to begin indirect ceasefire talks that could reshape the future of the region.
According to BBC, people in Gaza have been living through unimaginable hardship, with years of suffering, displacement, and loss. Mousa Aabed, speaking from central Gaza over WhatsApp, captured the mood: "Most people desperately long for peace and to be able to live with dignity and stability once again." Yet, he added, there is a deep-seated fear of disappointment. "The majority have no trust that this war will actually end. People have lost faith in everyone." For many, the hope is that any peace plan will "bring real improvement to the lives of our people."
On the Israeli side, the emotional toll of the conflict has been just as profound. October 4 saw around 200,000 Israelis flood the streets of Tel Aviv, demanding the immediate finalization of U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan. Their message was loud and clear: bring the hostages home and end the war. The demonstration, as reported by Reuters, was one of the largest since the war began, and protest organizers released striking aerial images of the crowds. President Trump himself shared these images on his Truth Social account, underscoring the deal’s international significance.
The war, triggered by the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel, has become the longest in Israeli history. It has also been the deadliest, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting more than 67,000 Palestinians killed since the conflict erupted. The suffering has not been one-sided. Israeli society has been deeply shaken by the kidnapping of 251 hostages, with 48 still believed to be held by Hamas—about 20 of whom are thought to be alive. The anguish of their families has been a driving force behind the push for a ceasefire.
According to NPR, the White House’s 20-point proposal is at the heart of the current negotiations. The plan calls for an immediate end to hostilities once both sides accept the terms. Israeli forces would pull back to a designated "initial line" within Gaza, facilitating the handover of all hostages—living and deceased—within 72 hours. In return, Israel would release roughly 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 Gaza residents detained since the war began. The deal also includes provisions for Hamas’s disarmament, an international force to oversee Gaza’s security, and the possibility of a pathway to Palestinian self-rule or statehood if reconstruction and reforms proceed as planned.
Yet, as with any peace process in the region, the devil is in the details. Hamas has only partially agreed to the plan, pressing for adjustments to the withdrawal line and explicit guarantees that Israel will not resume large-scale operations after the hostages are returned. Negotiators close to Hamas argue that the proposed 72-hour window for returning hostages is unrealistic, given the chaos on the ground, with some remains buried under rubble and others possibly held by different groups. Egyptian mediators expect this timetable to be extended to up to seven days.
For Israel, the plan comes with its own set of challenges. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted the first phase of the proposal in principle, but insists that any agreement must ensure Hamas’s effective disarmament and verifiable security guarantees. According to Haaretz, Netanyahu’s acceptance was less a choice than a necessity. Isolated internationally and under intense pressure at home, he had little room to maneuver. As veteran Israeli columnist Nahum Barnea wrote in Yedioth Ahronoth, "Netanyahu and the war have dealt a fatal blow to the support of the Democrats and to the support of a significant part of Trump’s own movement and the Republican Party. This is what happens to a country that puts all its eggs in one orange basket."
Political scientist Jonathan Rynhold, cited by Reuters, explained that Netanyahu managed to influence the terms of the plan to make it more palatable domestically. The phased Israeli withdrawal, the focus on Hamas’s disarmament, and the lack of a firm timetable for Palestinian statehood all reflect concessions to Israel’s right-wing coalition. Still, the deal has sparked dissent within Netanyahu’s government, particularly among hard-right factions who see it as a derailment of their own plans to resettle Gaza and assert sovereignty over the West Bank.
The U.S. administration’s role has been pivotal. Since a joint press conference with Netanyahu on September 29, President Trump has dramatically intensified efforts to end the war, applying maximum pressure on both sides to reach an agreement. As Haaretz notes, Trump’s shift from rhetoric to action has left Netanyahu with little choice but to comply. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on October 5 that Hamas has agreed to the framework of a hostage deal, and that talks should focus on "the logistics behind the release of these hostages."
Trump himself has not minced words. In an interview with CNN, he warned that Hamas would face "complete obliteration" if it refused to relinquish control of Gaza. He also made it clear that Netanyahu is on board with ending Israel’s bombing of the territory. The Israeli military responded by announcing a scaling down of operations in Gaza, signaling a willingness to follow through on the plan’s initial steps.
Despite the cautious optimism, skepticism remains on both sides. In Gaza, some fear that Israel will impose new conditions after the hostages are released and that fighting could resume. A'id Fuad al-Minawi, a 52-year-old Gazan, told NPR, "It's a trap. Israel will impose impossible new conditions after they get the hostages—and the war will begin again." For Israelis, the greatest hope is the safe return of the remaining hostages, but there is also a deep-seated anxiety about the future and the possibility of renewed conflict.
Military experts, like retired Major-General Giora Eiland, warn that Israel must also prepare for the possibility of another war with Iran in the next two to three years. The need to refocus resources and attention on this looming threat adds another layer of urgency to the current negotiations.
As the talks in Egypt get underway, the world watches with bated breath. For the people of Gaza and Israel, weary from years of violence and loss, the stakes could not be higher. “We are one step away from a comprehensive agreement,” said Einav Zangauker, whose son remains a hostage. “We will not let this opportunity slip away.”
Whether this moment marks the beginning of lasting peace or another chapter of disappointment will depend on the willingness of all parties to compromise—and on the resilience of those who have suffered most to keep hoping for a better future.
