The Israel-Hamas ceasefire brings a fragile pause, but the road ahead is fraught with deep-seated tensions that could unravel peace at any moment—keep reading to uncover why this deal might just be the beginning of an even tougher chapter.
As the first phase of the ceasefire unfolded, Israel welcomed home four hostages who had tragically passed away, with promises of 24 more to follow in the coming days. In exchange, Israel agreed to ramp up the delivery of essential supplies, including food and other humanitarian necessities, flooding into Gaza to address the dire needs of its people.
Amid this exchange, Gaza erupted in celebrations as prisoners long held in Israeli custody returned home, sparking a glimmer of hope that the relentless cycle of violence might finally come to an end. Yet, for the exhausted residents of Gaza, the suffering persists. The territory has been ravaged by intense Israeli airstrikes, leaving its once-thriving economy in tatters, essential services like water and electricity in complete chaos, and countless homes reduced to rubble. The massive reconstruction effort looms large, potentially spanning several years, and a critical question hangs in the air: Who will foot the bill for rebuilding a land torn apart by conflict?
But here's where it gets controversial—Israel claims this agreement delivers everything it set out to achieve in the war. To mark the occasion, U.S. President Donald Trump made a high-profile visit to the region, where he addressed Israel's parliament and urged its leaders to build on this momentum for a wider peace across the Middle East. In Egypt, alongside other global dignitaries, he helped launch the more intricate elements of the deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who skipped the Egypt gathering due to a religious observance, stood before parliament and declared his unwavering support for the accord. He insisted it effectively concludes the conflict by meeting all of Israel's goals. Before the deal, Israel had vowed not to halt hostilities until every hostage was released and Hamas was thoroughly dismantled. Detractors, however, have accused Netanyahu of prolonging the war for personal political gain—a charge he firmly rejects. To grasp the context, it's helpful for newcomers to know that Hamas is an Islamist militant group governing Gaza, widely designated as a terrorist organization by many countries, including the U.S. and Israel.
This war erupted from Hamas's brutal October 7, 2023, assault, which claimed around 1,200 lives and resulted in the abduction of 251 individuals. Israel's response has, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, resulted in over 67,000 deaths, a figure that includes both fighters and civilians without distinction. The ministry operates under Hamas, but organizations like the United Nations and various independent analysts consider its data a trustworthy indicator of the human toll.
The conflict's effects have spread like ripples across the Middle East, igniting clashes with Lebanon's Hezbollah, Yemen's Iran-backed rebels, and even Iran directly—highlighting how localized violence can escalate into a regional powder keg.
And this is the part most people miss—the sheer emotion of the hostages' homecomings that united Israel in joy. Israelis gathered in massive public viewings by the thousands, erupting in applause and sobs of happiness as 20 surviving male hostages, all having endured nearly two years in captivity, were embraced by their loved ones. Witness the heartwarming moment when Zvika Mor exclaimed to his son Eitan, "You're alive! With two arms and two legs intact!" Or the touching scene where Tal Kupershtein, despite his wheelchair and past health struggles, rose briefly to hug his son Bar, fulfilling a long-held personal vow.
Unlike prior exchanges, Hamas skipped any ceremonial fanfare this time, opting instead for video calls where masked fighters gave families their first glimpse of the captives before their release. The hostages' ordeal had galvanized Israel, drawing weekly protests by thousands demanding their safe return. Many see this as a key force pushing for an end to the war, with some arguing that Netanyahu's dual objectives—freeing the hostages and crushing Hamas—were fundamentally at odds, perhaps explaining the extended fighting.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that any hold-up by Hamas in returning the remains of the deceased hostages would be seen as a breach of the ceasefire terms.
On the flip side, the release of nearly 1,900 Palestinian prisoners stirred a wave of jubilation, but it's a point that divides opinions sharply. Festive crowds in the Israeli-occupied West Bank town of Beitunia and Gaza's Khan Younis cheered as the freed individuals disembarked from buses, flashing victory signs before heading to their destinations—some to the West Bank, others to Gaza, and a few into exile. One returnee, Mahmoud Fayez, who was arrested in a raid on Gaza's Shifa Hospital last year, expressed his gratitude: "Praise be to God, our Lord, who has granted us this honor and this happiness." Among them were 250 serving life sentences for attacks on Israelis, plus 1,700 detained from Gaza during the war without formal charges. For Palestinians, prisons are a sensitive topic; nearly every family has a connection to someone incarcerated by Israel, viewing these individuals as heroes fighting for liberation.
President Trump also used his visit to rally for the deal in both Israel and Egypt. Speaking to the Knesset, he urged Israel to pivot from military might to lasting peace: "Israel, with our support, has secured all it can through the strength of its arms. Now, it's time to turn those battlefield triumphs against terrorists into the greatest reward: peace and wealth for the whole Middle East." His address was momentarily disrupted by two lawmakers protesting, one brandishing a sign that read "Recognize Palestine," underscoring the ongoing debates about Palestinian statehood.
In Egypt, alongside President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, Trump joined leaders from over 20 nations at a summit focused on Gaza's future and regional stability. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who oversees parts of the West Bank, was also present.
Despite Trump's buoyant outlook, numerous stubborn challenges linger, and here's where debates really heat up—could these unresolved issues doom the ceasefire? Israel demands that a weakened Hamas lay down its arms entirely, while Hamas digs in, refusing and insisting on Israel's full withdrawal from Gaza. To date, Israeli forces have pulled back from much of Gaza City, the southern area of Khan Younis, and other spots, but they still occupy key sections like most of Rafah in the south, northern towns, and along the Gaza-Israel border.
Who's going to lead Gaza next? That's another big question mark. A U.S.-backed proposal suggests an international governing body overseeing Palestinian experts who handle daily operations—a setup Hamas opposes, arguing that governance should be decided internally among Palestinians. The plan also envisions a role for Abbas's Palestinian Authority, which Netanyahu has historically resisted, but only after the authority implements reforms. It proposes an Arab-led security force in Gaza, supported by Palestinian police, with Israeli troops exiting as these deploy. About 200 U.S. military personnel are stationed in Israel to oversee the ceasefire.
Adding fuel to the fire, the blueprint hints at eventual Palestinian statehood—a notion Netanyahu views as a deal-breaker.
What do you think? Does Netanyahu's claim of victory ring true, or was the war prolonged for political gain? Is the casualty count a fair reflection of the conflict, or does it blur lines between combatants and civilians? And on the governance front, should Palestinians have more say in Gaza's future, or does Israel's security come first? Share your thoughts in the comments—do you agree, disagree, or see another angle? Let's discuss!
This report draws from contributions by Magdy in Cairo and Shurafa in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, alongside Associated Press writers Josef Federman in Truro, Massachusetts; Bassem Mroue in Beirut; Jalal Bwaitel and Sam Metz in Ramallah, West Bank; Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel; and Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece.
