Hamas and Israel Move Toward Ceasefire After Deal Approval

Published: 10 October 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online

Celebrations broke out across Israel and the Palestinian territories on Thursday night as both sides prepared to implement a ceasefire deal aimed at ending more than two years of devastating conflict. The agreement, which has been formally approved by Israel’s government and accepted by Hamas, promises to halt a war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives, destabilised the Middle East, and drawn global condemnation.

In Gaza, scenes of relief mixed with fear. While some residents took to the streets to dance and sing, many remained wary, haunted by the memories of previous ceasefires that failed to hold. The roar of Israeli aircraft above the enclave served as a reminder of how fragile peace remains in a territory scarred by destruction and grief.

In Israel, the mood was one of cautious optimism. Hospitals prepared to receive hostages soon to be released by Hamas, while thousands of people flooded central Tel Aviv, waving flags and chanting in celebration. After years of anguish, the sense of hope was palpable.

Late in the evening, a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the Israeli government had “approved the framework for the release of all hostages – both the living and the deceased.” The announcement came after an extraordinary cabinet meeting, marking the most significant political step toward ending the war.

The diplomatic breakthrough followed intense, behind-the-scenes negotiations mediated by the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement of a new “peace proposal” last week triggered a rapid series of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Trump said on Thursday he planned to attend the signing ceremony in Egypt and was expected to travel to Israel on Sunday. Declaring the deal “a great plan,” he claimed it would “end the war in Gaza.” Under the terms outlined, Hamas is to release 48 hostages—fewer than half of whom are believed to be alive—early next week, while Israel will begin freeing Palestinian prisoners in return.

The U.S. has announced that around 200 troops will be deployed to Israel to help monitor and support the ceasefire’s implementation. Although many of Trump’s broader peace proposals remain unresolved or unacknowledged by either side, world leaders rushed to praise the agreement as a long-awaited step toward stability.

Still, confusion surrounded the timetable. Netanyahu’s office said the ceasefire would take effect once formally ratified, but government spokespeople suggested it might begin within 24 hours of approval. The release of living hostages is expected within 72 hours, officials said.

According to Israeli sources, forces will withdraw to a pre-agreed line, leaving Israel in control of roughly 53% of Gaza’s territory. In return, Israel will release about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, though Marwan Barghouti—one of the most prominent figures of the Palestinian movement—will not be among them. Hamas representatives confirmed that final discussions over the prisoner list were ongoing.

Hamas political chief Khalil al-Hayya, speaking from exile, said his group had received “clear guarantees” from the United States, Arab mediators and Turkey that Israel’s military campaign had permanently ended. The militant organisation urged Washington and other guarantor states to ensure that Israel fully honours the ceasefire commitments.

International organisations immediately began preparing humanitarian operations. The UN said its agencies were ready to move aid into Gaza, where famine was declared in August. UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the ceasefire but warned that “to turn this moment into real progress, we need more than the silencing of the guns.” He called for safe access for aid workers, the removal of bureaucratic barriers and urgent funding to rebuild Gaza’s shattered infrastructure.

In Tel Aviv, the joy was unmistakable. Thousands gathered in Hostages Square, the symbolic heart of the campaign to free those abducted in Hamas’s October 2023 attacks. People waved Israeli and American flags, sang together and wept with relief.

“It feels like we can finally see a bit of light at the end of this long tunnel,” said 25-year-old student Einav Kahila, who had travelled from Jerusalem to join the crowd. “There’s fear, of course—we’ve been disappointed before—but tonight people want to believe in hope.”

Einav Zaugauker, whose son Matan is among the hostages expected to be released, said she could hardly contain her emotions. “I can’t breathe. I can’t explain what I’m feeling,” she told local media. “It’s unbelievable.”

Across the border in Gaza, the atmosphere was more restrained. “I did not know whether to be happy or sad,” said Ola al-Nazli, 47, who was forced from her home in Gaza City months ago and now shelters in a tent near al-Muwasi. “We have lived through this before, and each time it ends in more disappointment. Our joy is mixed with pain and fear. We just want to live in safety, without bombs, without moving again.”

Despite the celebrations, major challenges remain. The ceasefire deal marks the most significant diplomatic achievement yet for Trump, who entered office promising to end wars in both Gaza and Ukraine but faced immense geopolitical obstacles. His envoys, Jared Kushner and special adviser Steve Witkoff, arrived in Israel on Thursday to help coordinate the final stages of the agreement.

Negotiators reportedly bridged key gaps over the first phase of Trump’s 20-point “peace plan,” though contentious issues—such as Hamas’s disarmament and Gaza’s long-term governance—remain unresolved. Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Al Araby TV that his group rejected Trump’s proposal for an interim “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza, which would be chaired by the U.S. president himself.

Still, for the first time in years, both sides appear closer than ever to ending a conflict that has left deep scars across the region. The war’s reach extended far beyond Gaza, drawing in Iran, Yemen and Lebanon, and sparking global protests demanding an end to the bloodshed.

Over the past week, Israel had already reduced the intensity of its air strikes. Gaza health authorities reported eight deaths on Wednesday—among the lowest daily tolls in months. Yet, humanitarian experts warn that even with the ceasefire, hundreds of thousands will remain without food or adequate shelter.

The war’s toll has been catastrophic. Around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the Hamas attacks of October 2023, during which 251 were taken hostage. Israel’s subsequent offensive has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, the majority of them civilians, and flattened large parts of Gaza. Entire neighbourhoods have been reduced to rubble, families displaced multiple times, and infrastructure destroyed beyond recognition.

For now, both Israelis and Palestinians find themselves suspended between hope and uncertainty. As one Israeli protester put it, “We don’t know if this is truly the end, but for the first time, it feels possible.”