Israel and Hamas have agreed to the initial phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan to end the two-year Gaza conflict, which has claimed over 67,000 Palestinian lives and devastated the region, as announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Truth Social on October 8, 2025. The deal, mediated in Egypt, marks a potential breakthrough on the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis and led to 251 hostages being taken.
Under the first phase of Trump’s 20-point proposal, Hamas will release nearly 50 living and deceased Israeli hostages within 72 hours of Israeli government approval, in exchange for Israel freeing around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including 250 serving life sentences. Israel will withdraw troops to an agreed buffer zone near the Gaza border, allowing humanitarian aid entry and halting the war. Hamas emphasized the need for guarantees against future Israeli incursions, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed it as a “big day” and plans to convene his cabinet for approval, crediting the IDF’s efforts.
Hamas’s statement praised mediators Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, and Trump’s role in securing a “definitive end to the war” with full Israeli withdrawal, urging enforcement to prevent delays. Netanyahu added, “With God’s help, we will bring them all home,” referring to the hostages, of whom only about 20 of the remaining 48 are believed alive.
The war has destroyed over 60% of Gaza’s buildings, per CNN analysis, with recent devastation in Rafah, Khan Younis, and Gaza City. Despite the agreement, Israeli strikes continued on October 8, killing at least eight Palestinians. Questions remain on Gaza’s post-war governance—Trump’s plan proposes a transitional body of Palestinian technocrats overseen by international experts, excluding Hamas—and reconstruction funding. Analysts note ongoing tensions over disarmament and withdrawal timelines.
