The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, brokered in early October 2025 after two years of genocide in Gaza, has entered its third day of implementation amid cautious optimism and intense international scrutiny. The truce precedes a high-level summit in Egypt, where world leaders are expected to finalize terms and explore long-term stabilization efforts.
Announced by U.S. President Donald Trump and ratified by the Israeli cabinet on October 10, the agreement marks a pivotal diplomatic breakthrough following 735 bombing that killed over 67,000 Palestinians and displaced more than a million.
The deal includes a structured exchange of detainees, and the entry of humanitarian aid, with oversight coordinated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
Detainee Exchange
Preparations are underway for the first major exchange of detainees. Hamas has committed to releasing 48 Israeli captives, including 20 confirmed to be alive, while Israel will release approximately 2,000 Palestinian detainees, including minors and individuals held during the past two years.
The agreement also includes the return of 360 bodies of Palestinian fighters. Those convicted of “fatal attacks” will be released to Gaza or deported abroad, permanently barred from entering the West Bank or Israel.
Humanitarian Situation
On the ground, hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have begun returning to the ruins of their homes. Civil defense teams continue to recover bodies from beneath the rubble, and hospitals, overwhelmed by the scale of injuries, have issued urgent appeals for international medical assistance.
Over the past 24 hours, medical teams reported that 155 bodies were transferred to hospitals across the Strip, 135 of which were recovered from collapsed buildings.
The agreement permits the entry of up to 600 aid trucks daily, coordinated by the United Nations and approved NGOs, with guaranteed passage along Gaza’s main north-south corridors.
Aid includes food, medical supplies, fuel, and equipment to repair water and sanitation infrastructure. Gaza residents are also permitted to cross into Egypt via Rafah, subject to Israeli approval and EU monitoring.
International Diplomacy
Diplomatic efforts are intensifying in parallel. Egypt will host an international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, October 13, to consolidate support for the ceasefire and lay groundwork for transitional governance and reconstruction.
More than 20 world leaders are expected to attend, including President Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron. The U.S. State Department has confirmed invitations to countries including Spain and Iran.
Earlier this week, a U.S. delegation visited Gaza to receive briefings on security, aid logistics, and compliance monitoring.
Special envoy Steve Witkoff stated that the visit aimed to verify Israel’s adherence to its obligations and assess conditions for sustained peace.
Transparency and Oversight
While the core terms of the agreement are publicly confirmed, reports persist about the existence of unpublished annexes or emergency protocols.
These alleged clauses, not officially acknowledged, are said to outline conditions under which the ceasefire could be suspended or modified, including military responses to serious violations.
Hamas has categorically denied the existence of secret provisions that could be used to justify renewed aggression, and official mediators have emphasized that all binding terms are transparent and subject to international oversight.
The Road Ahead
As Gaza begins the long process of recovery, the durability of the ceasefire will depend on the parties’ commitment to the declared terms and the ability of international actors to enforce compliance. The world watches closely to see whether this fragile truce can evolve into a lasting peace.
On the ground, Medical teams in Gaza reported that 155 bodies were transferred to hospitals across the Strip over the past 24 hours, as Israeli bombardment continued despite the formal activation of a ceasefire agreement. Of these, 135 were recovered from beneath the rubble of homes and buildings destroyed in previous attacks.
