The long and bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas may finally see a turning point. Between the days of October 8 and 10, 2025, Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas reached an agreement on the first stage of a peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. The negotiations, held in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh, were mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye.

The agreement, which took effect with a ceasefire on Friday, has already allowed humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza after months of blockade and devastation. As part of phase one, Hamas is set to release 20 surviving Israeli hostages and the remains of several others, while Israel will free 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and an additional 1,700 detainees from Gaza.

According to the plan, Israel will withdraw its forces to a designated line, retaining control over about half of Gaza, and a multinational monitoring force led by the United States will oversee the ceasefire. The force will include contingents from Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar, and the UAE, marking the first multinational peace monitoring presence in the Strip.

President Trump described the development as a “historic step toward lasting peace in the Middle East.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “a great day for Israel” and thanked Trump for his mediation efforts. Hamas also confirmed its commitment to the deal, emphasizing the ceasefire, humanitarian access, and prisoner exchanges as core components.

While this agreement represents a significant diplomatic achievement, deep uncertainty remains over later stages of the plan. Israel insists that Hamas must disarm and renounce control of Gaza, while Hamas continues to demand the establishment of a Palestinian state before laying down its arms. The ambiguity over troop withdrawals and Gaza’s future governance raises the risk of renewed clashes if either side feels betrayed........

© AzerNews