After nearly two years of relentless conflict, a breakthrough has finally emerged in the Gaza Strip. On October 8, 2025, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed an announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump: Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a 20-point peace plan after days of indirect negotiations in Egypt, as reported by multiple sources including UN News and The Media Line. This deal, many hope, could end the devastating war that erupted following Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023, bringing long-awaited relief to millions of Israelis and Palestinians.
President Trump, taking to social media late Wednesday, stated that Hamas had agreed to release all hostages held inside Gaza "very soon," while Israel consented to a phased withdrawal of its ground forces to an "agreed upon line." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed the sense of optimism, calling it "a great day for Israel." Netanyahu announced that his government would convene on October 9 to approve the first phase, which includes an immediate ceasefire, according to CNN and UNN reports.
UN Secretary-General Guterres, in a statement, praised the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye for brokering what he called a "desperately needed breakthrough." He urged all parties to "abide fully by the terms of the agreement," especially regarding the dignified release of hostages, some of whom have been held in Gaza for over two years. Guterres was unequivocal: "The fighting must stop once and for all. Immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian supplies and essential commercial materials into Gaza must be ensured. The suffering must end." The United Nations, alongside the Red Crescent, has been tasked under the U.S. plan with overseeing the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid.
Hamas’s response was swift and public. On October 9, Khalil al-Hayya, the group’s chief negotiator, confirmed the ceasefire terms and claimed that the United States and mediators had provided assurances that the war "has ended indefinitely," as covered by The Media Line. Al-Hayya stated, "Hamas accepted President Donald Trump’s peace proposal with high responsibility. Our response serves our people and prevents further bloodshed." He outlined that the agreement would bring an end to fighting, secure Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, and facilitate a prisoner exchange between the two sides.
The details of the prisoner exchange are significant. The agreement includes the release of 250 Palestinian security prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 inmates from Gaza detained after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. In return, Hamas is expected to release 48 hostages it currently holds, starting with the 20 believed to be alive. According to The Times of Israel, these living hostages will be handed over to Red Cross representatives without a release ceremony and then escorted to the IDF’s Re’im base for initial health checks. Those requiring urgent medical attention will be airlifted to Soroka Hospital in Beersheba. The bodies of slain hostages will be received by troops in Gaza, where a small ceremony led by a military rabbi will be held before their transfer for identification.
Implementation of the agreement, however, hinges on Israeli cabinet approval. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed preparations to withdraw from Gaza in accordance with the deal. Once ratified, the IDF is expected to begin pulling back troops within 24 hours, retreating to agreed-upon deployment lines that will leave Israel in control of about 53 percent of Gaza’s territory, mostly outside urban areas. This includes a buffer zone along the entire Gaza border, the Philadelphi Corridor (the Egypt-Gaza border area), Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya in the north, a ridge near Gaza City, and large portions of Rafah and Khan Younis in the south.
The first phase of the agreement can only be implemented if the Israeli cabinet votes in favor. The IDF has stated it is prepared to handle the simultaneous release of all 20 living hostages if Hamas chooses to free them all together. Family members of the hostages are expected to wait at the Re’im facility, hoping for emotional reunions after years of anguish. For those whose loved ones did not survive, the process will be more somber: the caskets will be examined for security purposes and then taken to forensic institutes for identification, a process that may take up to two days.
While the public text of the agreement has not been released, several key points are known. The plan calls for the release of all hostages, withdrawal of Israeli troops to an agreed point, and the release of Palestinian prisoners. Later phases, which remain under negotiation, include Hamas’s disarmament and the transfer of Gaza under the control of a transitional government. According to UNN, these points are still being discussed, and the long-term durability of the ceasefire will depend on successful implementation of these later stages, such as Hamas’s disarmament and Israel’s security guarantees.
The war’s toll has been immense. Al-Hayya, in his remarks, honored senior Hamas leaders killed by Israeli forces and described Gaza’s residents as having "fought in a war unprecedented in the world and faced the enemy’s tyranny, military actions, and massacres." He added, "Hamas fighters were men on the battlefield, and we were men at the negotiating table." Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar signaled Jerusalem’s willingness to move forward with the framework, stating on October 9 that Israel "is not preparing to renew the war."
President Trump, meanwhile, announced plans to visit the region over the weekend following the agreement, and Prime Minister Netanyahu has invited the U.S. president to address the Israeli parliament. The UN chief urged all stakeholders to "seize this momentous opportunity to establish a credible political path forward towards ending the occupation, recognizing the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, and achieving a two-State solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security." As Guterres put it, "The stakes have never been higher."
With the world watching, the coming days will test whether the promises made in Cairo and Washington can translate into lasting peace on the ground. The families of hostages, the residents of Gaza, and millions across the region now wait—hopeful, anxious, and perhaps a little skeptical—as history teeters on the edge of a new chapter.