A Fragile Peace Agreement: The Israel-Hamas Ceasefire

Marking almost 2 years after the onset of an intense conflict, Israel and Hamas enacted a landmark ceasefire and hostage exchange, brokered under the Trump administration. The deal reflects optimism, yet, uncertainty looms about whether the pause will evolve into lasting peace. 

Hostage-Prisoner Swap 

The core of the agreement, so far, is the hostage/prisoner exchange. Hamas published the names of the 20 Israeli hostages to be released under the first phase of the ceasefire. The names of the Israeli individuals are listed here, by Reuters. In return, Israel freed approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. 

The agreement also included expanded humanitarian access to Gaza. Israel agreed to reopen border crossings allowing a massive influx of aid convoys. The population is facing food, water, medical, and shelter crises, having lacked sufficient aid for many months. 

Gradual Israeli Withdrawal 

As of October 10, Israel has already partially withdrawn troops from Gaza’s urban areas. Gradually, forces would withdraw, however for the meantime, troops would retreat to designated lines to allow civilians to reoccupy neighborhoods. U.S. troops will have some involvement to monitor the integrity of the deal, along with other nations and NGOs. According to the Northeastern Global News, these initial steps are only phase 1 of a 20-point plan.

The 20-Point Plan

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) treats the plan as a bold, extensive framework that seeks to move Gaza from a conflict prone region toward a managed, internationally supervised area of transition. CFR’s guide lays out the core elements of the plan’s structure: 

Phased Israeli withdrawal and security zones	Initial withdrawal  Gradually reducing footprint to 40%, then 15% Only enacting a security perimeter
Hostage-prisoner exchange	All hostages be returned to their respective country
Demilitarization and disarmament	Hamas and armed factions in Gaza surrender heavy weaponry Frames Gaza as a “deradicalized terror-free zone”
Transitional governance	Gaza will internally be administered by an apolitical Palestinian committee  Oversight conducted by the newly created “Board of Peace”
Economic reconstruction	Panels of international experts to guide investment, infrastructure renewal, and creating conditions for job opportunity
Increasing aid and humanitarian initiatives	A full aid package, without interference

The Egypt Peace Summit (Sharm el-Sheikh) 

Following the ceasefire, a high profile international summit convened in Egypt is being held to lay the political foundation for the next phase of the war. Co-led by President Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the Sharm el-Sheikh “Peace Summit” brought together regional and global actors to endorse a shared vision for Gaza and Israel’s post war future. 

Trump addressed the gathering with grandiose language, declaring that the ceasefire marked the “end of war” and the beginning of a new constructive era. El-Sisi described Trump’s peace proposal as the “last chance” for regional stability, according to AP. It has been released that a joint declaration has been signed, however, its contents have not yet been published (as of October 14, 2025) 

Participating in the summit were over 20 countries, including Qatar, Turkey, European countries, and UN representatives who pledged their support for reconstruction and political transition efforts in Gaza. Not present were Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu nor an official Hamas delegation attendee. 

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and U.S. President Trump co-chair a peace summit in Egypt's Sharm el Sheikh via AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Conclusion

We are upon a new age of contemporary peace building where the arrival of a ceasefire has been long-awaited. A long-awaited window for relief has finally opened – one that millions, globally, have been yearning for. The deeper challenge, now, lies in the diplomatic transformation of a fragile region. The 20-point plan is multifaceted and requires patience and cooperation. For Israel, the ceasefire offers breathing space to reassess security. For Palestine, it offers a slim but vital hope of rebuilding shattered lives and institutions. For the U.S. and Egypt, it provides an opportunity for diplomatic and sustainable success in one of the most conflict prone regions.

Sources:

• Associated Press. 2025. “Egyptian president says Trump’s Mideast proposal is ‘last chance’ for peace in the region.” Associated Press, October 13, 2025. Link

• BBC. 2025. “Ceasefire comes into force as Israel’s military pulls out parts of Gaza.” BBC, October 10, 2025. link

• BBC. 2025. “ ‘Now the rebuilding begins,’ says Trump as he signs Gaza peace plan.” BBC, October 13, 2025. Link

• BBC. 2025. “Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan in full.” BBC, October 8, 2025. Link

• Council on Foreign Relations. 2025. “A Guide to Trump’s Twenty-Point Gaza Peace Deal.” Council on Foreign Relations, October 13, 2025. Link

• Council on Foreign Relations. 2025. “Trump Achieves Breakthrough Gaza Ceasefire, but a Tough Road Lies Ahead.” Council on Foreign Relations, October 9, 2025. Link

• Northeastern Global News. 2025. “Trump peace plan greeted with ‘optimism’ in Israel, but leaves out a ‘vision for Palestinians’ experts say.” Northeastern Global News, October 10, 2025. Link

• POLITICO. 2025. “Trump, in Egypt, highlights collective effort to end war in Gaza.”POLITICO, October 13, 2025. Link

• Reuters. 2025. “Hamas publishes names of 20 Israeli hostages to be released.” Reuters, October 13, 2025. Link

• Reuters. 2025. “Trump says Israel, Hamas signed off on the first phase of Gaza deal.” Reuters, October 8, 2025. Link