In a development that has reverberated across the globe, Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a US-brokered ceasefire plan, raising hopes for an end to two years of devastating conflict in Gaza. The agreement, announced on October 9, 2025, by US President Donald Trump on social media, marks what many leaders are hailing as a historic breakthrough—though it comes with no shortage of caution and unresolved questions.
Qatar, a key mediator in the fraught negotiations, confirmed that an agreement had been reached on "all the provisions and implementation mechanisms" of the first phase of the ceasefire plan. According to CNN, the deal includes the swift release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, an Israeli military withdrawal to an agreed-upon point, and the release of some Palestinian prisoners. President Trump stated that the hostages are likely to be released on Monday, October 13, 2025, pending the ratification of the agreement by the Israeli government and the completion of certain legal procedures.
The mood in both Israel and Gaza has swung between jubilation and wary restraint. In Jerusalem, Dalia Cusnir, whose brother-in-law Eitan Horn was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023, expressed a sense of surreal relief. “We’re more than grateful to President Trump and everything he has done for us. We feel like it might be the beginning of the end of this nightmare, and hugging Eitan feels closer than ever,” she told the BBC. Yet, she tempered her optimism: “Until the last hostage is here, we’re not opening the champagne. We’re going to keep fighting… until the end. So many things can happen until the last moment so this is why we’re being so, so careful.”
The deal is the result of months of painstaking diplomacy, with Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey playing pivotal roles alongside the United States. Hamas, for its part, publicly thanked President Trump and the mediators for their efforts. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the agreement a “diplomatic success and a national and moral victory” for his country, according to CNN.
International reaction has been swift and largely positive. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union "will continue to support the swift and safe delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. And when the time comes, we will be ready to help with recovery and reconstruction." France’s President Emmanuel Macron urged all parties to “strictly respect” the terms of the agreement and called for a political solution based on the two-State model. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the agreement as “extraordinary news,” while her foreign minister said Italy would be ready to send peacekeeping troops if needed.
Other world leaders echoed these sentiments. The Netherlands’ Prime Minister Dick Schoof said the agreement “could potentially end the suffering of so many: the hostages and their families, and the population of Gaza.” Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin called for an immediate surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended “special thanks” to President Trump and pledged to monitor the agreement’s implementation closely. Leaders from Britain, Canada, India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina also welcomed the ceasefire, with many describing it as a much-needed step toward peace and stability in the region.
On the ground, the initial phase of the plan requires Israeli forces to withdraw to an agreed line—referred to as the "yellow line"—while retaining control over 53 percent of the Gaza Strip, including positions along the Netzarim corridor and outside Gaza City. According to an Israeli official quoted by CNN, the government was set to convene a security cabinet meeting on October 9 to vote on the agreement, specifically the hostage release component. Under Israeli law, there is a brief window for legal petitions to challenge the prisoner releases, after which the process can proceed. Only then can the release of hostages move forward, with a 72-hour countdown beginning once Israeli forces have completed their initial withdrawal.
Despite the celebratory scenes in both Israel and Gaza, the situation remains tense. Explosions were still being reported in Gaza on the morning of October 9, even as news of the ceasefire agreement spread. Live footage from Reuters showed smoke rising over the enclave, and the Israeli military warned Palestinians not to return to certain areas. The military also stated it had begun operational preparations for the transition to adapted deployment lines.
Humanitarian agencies have responded with cautious optimism. UNICEF’s global spokesperson described the day as one of hope, but underscored the devastation wrought by two years of war. Amnesty International's Secretary General Agnès Callamard said the "cruelly overdue" agreement would "not erase" the suffering endured by Palestinians in Gaza, and called for a more comprehensive solution. The Norwegian Refugee Council’s Jan Egeland called the deal “a glimmer of hope,” but stressed that “stopping the bombing alone will not end survivors’ suffering.”
For many, the release of hostages is the most emotionally charged aspect of the deal. In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, hundreds gathered to celebrate, joined by former hostages and families of those still held captive. Videos posted on social media showed released hostages thanking President Trump, and families expressing their gratitude while anxiously awaiting the return of their loved ones. “These are the tears I prayed for,” said Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, as reported by CNN.
Yet, critical issues remain unresolved. The agreement does not address the disarmament of Hamas, the future governance of Gaza, or long-term security guarantees. President Trump, who may visit Israel and address its parliament in the coming days, previously floated a plan for an international body to oversee Gaza until a reformed Palestinian Authority is ready to assume control, but offered no specifics in his announcement. According to CNN, lists of hostages and prisoners have been exchanged, but the fate of certain high-profile detainees and the remains of deceased hostages remains unclear.
As the world watches, hopes are high but tempered by the lessons of previous failed ceasefires. The coming days will test whether this fragile agreement can hold, and whether it can serve as the foundation for a broader, lasting peace in a region scarred by loss and longing for normalcy.
