Today on Oct 9. 2025, Israel and Hamas agreed to implement the first phase of a cease-fire plan organized by President Donald Trump. The ceasefire plan has the potential to end the almost exactly two year war that has raged in Israel and Gaza.
The war began on Oct 7. 2023 when Hamas launched over 4,000 rockets into Israel and massacred approximately 1,200 Israeli citizens. Since then, Israel has been fighting Hamas across the Gaza strip, most recently launching a renewed offensive into Gaza city, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
The deal requires that Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups release the 48 remaining hostages from captivity that they took on Oct 7. 2023. Of the 48 hostages that remain in Gaza, 20 are assumed to still be alive. 26 are dead, and their bodies will be traded back to Israel as part of the deal. Two of the hostages’ status are unknown as of right now.
Of the 26 bodies expected to be returned to Israel, one is that of Hadar Goldin. Goldin, a soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), was shot and killed by Hamas fighters during a UN brokered ceasefire in 2014. His is the only body returned that is not of one of the victims of the October 7 attack.
The hostages promised to be released by Hamas come from across Israeli society. Three IDF soldiers are held in Gaza. The bodies of American citizens are also expected to be returned from Gaza.
11 of the hostages were kidnapped during the Nova music festival which Hamas attacked during the October 7 attack. One of the hostages, Avinatan Or, who was taken during the attack is alive and expected to return. Noa Argamani, Or’s girlfriend, was also kidnapped but freed by an IDF operation in central Gaza in June 2014.
In exchange, Israel has agreed to release 250 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails serving life sentences. Some Israeli officials have reservations about this portion of the plan, including Bezalel Smotrich. Israel also agreed to withdraw from parts of the Gaza Strip as part of the first stage of the deal.
The deal will also have Israeli and Egyptian border crossings open, which were closed after the October 7 attack. There will be a substantial increase in the amount of aid entering the Gaza Strip. Egyptian and Hamas spokesmen have said that as many as 600 trucks of aid will enter Gaza over the next few weeks.
The main point of contention between the two sides is the issue of Hamas disarming itself, something which has been demanded by Israel as a condition for peace. This among other factors will have to be figured out to achieve a lasting peace.
In terms of future security, the plan calls for Israel to maintain some unclear remaining military presence in Gaza, while an international coalition of Arab states will provide the main security force for Gaza going forward.
Hamas and Israel have accepted broad terms of the deal, the details of a final peace are being negotiated in Egypt. Civilians on both sides are hopeful that this deal will create a lasting peace in the region.
