President Donald Trump has confirmed that the recently brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains in effect, despite a series of breaches attributed to "rebels within" the Palestinian group. The agreement, which took effect on October 10, 2025, marked the first phase of Trump’s ambitious peace plan for Gaza, coming just a day after the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attacks that reignited hostilities in the region.
Speaking aboard Air Force One after a stop in Doha, President Trump was cautiously optimistic about the prospects for peace, even as reports surfaced of continued violence. "They’ve been doing some shooting, and we think maybe the leadership isn’t involved in that," Trump told reporters, according to Nexstar Media Inc. He emphasized that the ceasefire was still holding and expressed hope that relations with Hamas would remain peaceful, adding, "I think it will hold."
The ceasefire agreement included a significant hostage release deal, which saw Hamas free all 20 Israeli hostages in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinians held by Israel. Among those released were 250 prisoners and around 1,700 individuals from Gaza who had been held without charge. The exchange was a deeply emotional moment for many families, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin describing the scenes of reunion as "deeply moved." He paid tribute to the patient diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and other partners, noting, "I pay enormous tribute to the patient work of all those who have brought us to this day."
However, the fragile peace has been repeatedly tested. The Israeli military carried out strikes on Gaza in response to what it described as violations of the truce by Palestinian armed groups. Despite these incidents, Israeli officials confirmed that they had resumed enforcing the ceasefire following their strikes on Hamas positions over the weekend. The back-and-forth has fueled fears that the agreement could unravel, but for now, both sides appear committed to maintaining the truce, at least in principle.
President Trump has made it clear that the responsibility for any collapse of the ceasefire would rest squarely on Hamas. "If it doesn’t hold, that would be Hamas," Trump said after his meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. He added, "Hamas will be not hard to take care of very quickly. I hope it holds for Hamas too because they gave us their word on something so I think it’s going to hold and if it doesn’t then they’ll have a very big problem." Trump’s remarks underscored the high stakes for Hamas, which has so far resisted calls to fully disarm or relinquish control of Gaza as part of the broader stabilization plan.
As part of the international effort to secure and stabilize Gaza, Qatar has played a pivotal role. Trump praised the Qataris for providing peacekeeping troops as part of the International Stabilization Force, which is intended to take over security control of Gaza from Hamas. "By the way, Israel will go in there very easily," Trump remarked, highlighting the broad support for the peace plan among Arab and Muslim countries. "You have the Arab countries. Everybody. Muslim, Arab everybody on board. It’s been really an amazing thing. It’s a great success. It’s going to be a long lasting. Hopefully everlasting peace."
Despite these diplomatic efforts, violence has persisted on the ground. According to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera, at least six Palestinians were shot and wounded by Israeli forces in various parts of the Gaza Strip since dawn on October 25, 2025. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that at least 93 people have been killed by Israeli attacks since the ceasefire began. These figures highlight the ongoing volatility and the challenges facing any peace agreement in such a deeply divided region.
Vice President JD Vance, who was in Israel on October 21, 2025, to inaugurate the U.S.-led Civilian-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) overseeing the ceasefire, reiterated the administration’s demands for Hamas to comply with the deal. "Hamas has to comply with the deal, and if Hamas doesn’t comply with the deal, very bad things are going to happen," Vance warned. The message from Washington has been clear: continued noncompliance by Hamas will trigger swift and severe consequences.
Trump also took to Truth Social to reinforce his position, stating that the militant group "is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly, or the other Countries involved in this GREAT PEACE will take action." He acknowledged the difficulties in recovering some of the bodies, but insisted that others could be returned immediately. "Perhaps it has to do with their disarming, but when I said, ‘Both sides would be treated fairly,’ that only applies if they comply with their obligations. Let’s see what they do over the next 48 hours. I am watching this very closely."
One of the key unresolved issues in the peace process is the future governance of Gaza. Under the stabilization plan, Hamas is expected to relinquish control, allowing for the formation of a technocratic government to administer the territory. However, there is currently no deadline for Hamas to cede power, and the group has not fully committed to disarming or stepping aside. This uncertainty adds another layer of complexity to an already fraught situation.
The involvement of international actors has been crucial in keeping the peace process on track, at least for now. The United States, Qatar, Egypt, and other partners have invested significant diplomatic capital in brokering and maintaining the ceasefire. Their continued engagement will likely be necessary to address the inevitable challenges that arise as the roadmap for Gaza’s future is implemented.
As the ceasefire enters its third week, the situation remains precarious. The exchange of hostages and prisoners has provided a glimmer of hope, but ongoing violence and unresolved political issues threaten to derail the fragile peace. The world watches closely as leaders on all sides navigate the difficult path toward a lasting solution in Gaza.
For now, the ceasefire holds—barely. Whether it will endure long enough to allow for meaningful change remains to be seen, but for the families reunited and the diplomats who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, it represents a rare moment of progress in a region all too familiar with heartbreak.
