Gaza Ceasefire Deal Agreed: Israel and Hamas Accept U.S.-Brokered Plan to End Two-Year War
A landmark ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has been reached after nearly two years of devastating conflict in Gaza. The U.S.-brokered deal, announced by President Donald Trump on Saturday evening, includes a phased Israeli withdrawal, the release of hostages, and the start of humanitarian reconstruction under international supervision. The deal, if fully implemented, would bring an end to one of the bloodiest and most protracted chapters in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Agreement Reached After Months of Negotiations
“After intensive negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line,” President Trump said in a statement. “Once Hamas confirms, the ceasefire will be immediately effective, and the hostages and prisoner exchanges will begin.” He called the deal “the start of peace in the Middle East” and praised Egyptian and Qatari mediators for their “extraordinary persistence.”
The breakthrough came after weeks of shuttle diplomacy between Cairo, Doha, Jerusalem, and Washington. According to U.S. officials, the ceasefire plan includes a three-phase structure: the cessation of hostilities, the exchange of captives and prisoners, and the initiation of a long-term political framework for Gaza’s governance.
Terms of the Ceasefire
Under the first phase, Israel will withdraw its forces from northern and central Gaza to an agreed “security perimeter.” Hamas will release all remaining Israeli hostages—both living and deceased—while Israel will release several hundred Palestinian prisoners, many detained during the conflict. Humanitarian corridors will reopen, and international agencies, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), will oversee aid deliveries and medical support.
The second phase envisions the deployment of a multinational monitoring mission led by Egypt and Qatar to ensure compliance. In the third phase, both sides will begin indirect talks about Gaza’s long-term political administration, border controls, and disarmament guarantees. A senior Egyptian diplomat told Reuters that “the agreement is fragile but historic,” adding, “This is the best opportunity for peace we have seen in years.”
Reactions from Israel and Hamas
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a late-night press briefing that the deal was “a necessary step” to secure Israel’s future. “Our citizens have endured too much. We have brought Hamas to its knees,” he said. However, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would maintain “security control” over key areas until all conditions are verified, including the complete release of hostages and the prevention of arms smuggling from Egypt.
A senior Israeli security official quoted by Haaretz cautioned that the government remains “deeply skeptical” about Hamas’s compliance, noting that “Israel has seen numerous ceasefire violations in the past.”
Hamas issued a statement through its political bureau in Doha confirming its “conditional acceptance” of the terms. “We agree to the cessation of hostilities in exchange for the withdrawal of occupation forces and the unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid,” the statement read. “Our position remains that Gaza must not remain under siege.”
However, Hamas has yet to publicly commit to full disarmament—a sticking point that could undermine implementation. A Hamas spokesperson told Al Jazeera that the movement “will not surrender its right to resist” but added that “we are committed to peace if Israel ceases its aggression.”
Humanitarian Situation in Gaza
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began in 2023, and over 1.8 million have been displaced. Large areas of Gaza City and Khan Younis remain in ruins, with limited access to clean water and electricity. Hospitals continue to operate under severe shortages of medicine and equipment.
“The humanitarian situation is catastrophic,” said U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres. “This ceasefire must hold to allow aid, reconstruction, and healing to begin.” The World Health Organization also announced that emergency medical teams were on standby to enter Gaza “within hours” of the ceasefire taking effect.
International Reactions
The ceasefire announcement drew cautious optimism from global leaders. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the deal “a step toward stability,” while French President Emmanuel Macron said France would “support any genuine peace effort that ensures security for both Israelis and Palestinians.” German Chancellor Annalena Baerbock urged both sides to “build on this fragile progress.”
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who hosted several rounds of indirect talks, said the deal “proves diplomacy can achieve what force cannot.” Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani praised both sides for “showing restraint in the final stages,” while cautioning that “implementation will be the hardest test.”
U.S. Role and Domestic Reactions
President Trump’s administration has framed the agreement as the cornerstone of its renewed Middle East peace strategy. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described it as “an outcome built on pressure, diplomacy, and vision.” Domestically, reactions in the United States were mixed: Republican lawmakers praised the move as “decisive diplomacy,” while some Democrats criticized the lack of transparency around the terms.
Human rights organizations have called for the ceasefire to include mechanisms for accountability. Amnesty International stated that “peace cannot come without justice for war crimes and the protection of civilians.”
What Comes Next?
The ceasefire will take effect once Hamas formally transmits its written confirmation to Qatari mediators. Implementation will be monitored by a joint coordination center based in Cairo, with representatives from Israel, Egypt, the U.S., and the United Nations. Early reports indicate that Israeli troops have already begun withdrawing from parts of northern Gaza.
Observers warn, however, that both sides face internal political challenges. Netanyahu’s coalition remains divided, while Hamas leaders face pressure from militant factions opposed to any compromise. Analysts at the International Crisis Group noted that “sustaining the ceasefire will depend as much on political will as on military restraint.”
For millions of civilians, the hope is simple. As one aid worker in Rafah told the BBC: “We have buried enough children. Let this ceasefire be real, not another pause before the next war.”
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Editor’s note: This report is based on verified information from Reuters, AP, BBC, and Al Jazeera as of 5 October 2025. Updates will follow if either side modifies the ceasefire terms.
