The sky appears to be clearing, the war-torn landscape receding, and the path to implementing the first phase of the ceasefire plan opening up. Whatever the outcome of Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, the developments of October 2025 will remain historic in the global calendar. The most intense conflict in the Middle East in the last half-century appears to be entering a phase of de-escalation, with the war crisis easing and differences significantly diminishing as both Israel and Hamas show signs of convergence for the first time after two years of war. The de-escalation comes as the US has proceeded with a historic partnership with Muslim and Arab states to jointly craft a solution for Gaza based on normalcy, away from conditions of famine and terrorism.
During the previous 24 hours, the international community welcomed the triumphant statements of the American president from the White House, with Donald Trump officially announcing the end of the war while expressing confidence that the foundations for implementing more permanent peace have already been laid. He even announced a trip to Egypt to finalize signatures and visits to the Middle East and Jerusalem – stops with symbolic significance. The timing of the agreement, the terms, the involved parties – everything had its own significance in a race against time to prevent the situation in the Middle East from completely derailing, with the international community issuing warnings about the ticking time bomb known as Gaza.
Israel & Hamas ceasefire agreement in Gaza: The thriller until closure, relief and remaining thorns
It all started last week when it became known that Hamas was generally positive about Trump’s 20-point plan, though it hadn’t given the final “yes,” with Trump issuing ultimatums to accelerate the processes. On October 9th, Hamas’s historic change of stance, showing somewhat conciliatory behavior, created new circumstances with Trump speaking of de facto peace and Benjamin Netanyahu’s war and ministerial council conducting marathon meetings to give the green light for implementing the first phase of the agreement.
Despite the fact that the first phase of the ceasefire, which includes prisoner exchanges and humanitarian aid entry into Gaza, is being implemented, obstacles remain for the second phase. Israel maintains that all its demands have been satisfied, though some hardliners in Netanyahu’s government criticize the Israeli Prime Minister for disorderly concessions. Hamas continues to appear divided.
The leadership of the Islamist organization accepts most terms of Trump’s plan, but the armed wing insists on its own issues. The question of Hamas disarmament appears to be undermining the climate, with the organization not accepting such conditions for the second phase to begin, while the unanswered question remains what will happen with Gaza’s governance and whether Hamas will ultimately approve the region’s administration by an international technocratic scheme excluding the Palestinian Authority.
While many countries in the international community insist on a two-state solution, Trump has found his own “modus operandi” to not exclude this demand, leaving room for new administration creation while not legitimizing a Palestinian state.
This is the Israel-Hamas agreement document signed in Egypt
The agreement document signed in Egypt by Israel, Hamas and mediators for hostage release and ending the Gaza war has been leaked. The document published by Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, titled “Implementation Steps of President Trump’s Plan” for a “comprehensive end to the Gaza war,” describes the agreement phases in detail.
The first step involves the American leader’s announcement of “the end of war in the Gaza Strip and that parties have agreed to implement necessary measures for this purpose.” The second step stipulates that “the war will end immediately after Israeli government approval,” which is currently meeting to vote on the agreement, “with all military operations stopping, including air strikes and artillery bombardments.” “During the 72-hour period, aerial surveillance will be suspended over areas from which Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have withdrawn,” the second step adds.
The third step requires “immediate commencement of full humanitarian aid and relief entry” into the Gaza Strip, while the fourth states that “IDF will withdraw to agreed lines according to the attached map, and this will be completed after President Trump’s announcement and within 24 hours of Israeli government approval.” “IDF will not return to areas from which it has withdrawn, provided Hamas fully implements the agreement,” it adds. In the fifth step, which will occur “within 72 hours of Israeli forces’ departure, all Israeli hostages, living and dead, held in Gaza will be released.”
Although it states that all hostages, living and dead, will be released during this 72-hour period, one subsection of the fifth step requires “establishing an information exchange mechanism… regarding any dead hostages not recovered within 72 hours or remains of Gaza residents held by Israel.” “The mechanism will ensure that remains of all hostages will be fully and safely exhumed and released. Hamas will make every effort to ensure fulfillment of these commitments as soon as possible,” it adds.
The next subsection stipulates that “as Hamas releases all hostages, Israel will simultaneously release the corresponding number of Palestinian prisoners according to attached lists,” followed by another subsection stating that “hostage and prisoner exchange will occur according to the mechanism agreed through mediators and through the ICRC without public ceremonies or media coverage.”
The final step mentioned is that “a special team will be established with representatives from the United States, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey and other countries to be agreed by the parties, to monitor agreement implementation by both sides and coordinate with them.”
SCOOP: this is the agreement document between Israel and Hamas under the title “Comprehensive End to the Gaza War” – including the signature of the mediators. More details of my story – at @kann_news pic.twitter.com/1qGPGFck7q
— Gili Cohen (@gilicohen10) October 9, 2025
