Israel and Hamas enacted a ceasefire on October 13, 2025, with the Israel Defense Forces saying the truce began at noon local time (09:00 GMT) as part of a U.S.-backed plan to halt fighting in Gaza. Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and the United States issued a joint statement the same day endorsing the agreement and committing to work toward “enduring peace,” including coordinated aid and reconstruction mechanisms for Gaza. As an initial step, Hamas released the final 20 living Israeli hostages while Israel carried out large-scale prisoner releases, marking a pivotal confidence-building exchange after two years of war.
Despite celebrations in Tel Aviv, the West Bank, and Gaza, core issues remain unresolved, including whether and how Hamas will disarm, the scope and sequencing of Israeli military withdrawals, and who will govern Gaza during reconstruction. Mediators framed the current accord as a first phase, with follow-on negotiations to address security guarantees, border controls, and sustained humanitarian access amid a fragile on-the-ground situation.
