Israel and Hamas agree to phased ceasefire and hostage release under US-mediated plan

Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on Oct 9 on the first phase of a ceasefire and hostage release deal, facilitated by the United States. The development comes as a step toward de-escalating the ongoing conflict that began in October 2023.

Under the agreement, Israel will begin withdrawing its forces from Gaza, moving away from populated areas as part of the phased ceasefire.

Hamas has committed to releasing a portion of the hostages held in Gaza, although the exact number and identities of the hostages have not been disclosed. The deal also includes provisions for increased humanitarian assistance, allowing essential supplies to reach civilians affected by the conflict.

The ceasefire negotiations were mediated by the United States, with President Donald Trump announcing the deal. Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey participated as intermediaries, helping coordinate between the two parties.

The United Nations has welcomed the agreement and urged both sides to adhere to its terms while continuing efforts toward a comprehensive peace settlement.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated after October 7, 2023 when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, resulting in significant casualties. Israel’s military response led to widespread destruction in Gaza, causing severe humanitarian consequences for thousands of civilians.

Since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023, Gaza has experienced significant civilian casualties and widespread infrastructure damage.

As of August 2025, the Gaza Health Ministry reported over 60,000 fatalities, with a substantial proportion being women and children. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) documented that approximately 92% of Gaza's schools have been destroyed or repurposed, depriving nearly all children of formal education.

Additionally, over 700 teachers and 1,700 healthcare workers have been killed, and most hospitals are damaged or destroyed, exacerbating crises caused by starvation, disease, and a lack of medical supplies.

Food production has collapsed, and famine is confirmed in parts of Gaza, with more than half a million people facing catastrophic hunger. Humanitarian aid is severely limited, with international aid efforts obstructed by Israeli restrictions, and new aid delivery operations raising concerns about neutrality.

Culturally, Gaza has suffered profound losses, with major religious and historical sites destroyed, and $55 billion in cultural heritage losses estimated. The World Bank estimates total recovery could cost over $53 billion, while clearing war debris could take more than two decades, as cited by a report in Washington Post.

Although both sides have attempted several short-term truces, most of them were temporary and failed to stop the violence completely.

Previous agreements, often brokered by Egypt and other international mediators, focused on halting attacks for limited periods to allow humanitarian aid delivery and civilian evacuation.

While some of these ceasefires reduced immediate hostilities, none addressed the underlying issues such as Gaza’s governance, militant group disarmament, or long-term security guarantees, leading to repeated flare-ups of conflict.