What's happened
On October 13-14, 2025, US President Donald Trump secured a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, ending two years of war in Gaza. The deal included the release of 20 surviving hostages by Hamas and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners by Israel. Trump signed the agreement with regional leaders in Egypt, launching a phased peace plan involving governance reforms and international oversight.
What's behind the headline?
Trump’s Ceasefire: A Fragile Milestone
The ceasefire agreement brokered by Trump marks a significant, though tentative, step toward ending a brutal two-year conflict. While the immediate release of hostages and prisoners offers relief, the broader peace plan faces daunting challenges:
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Implementation Complexity: The phased plan requires Hamas to disarm and relinquish Gaza governance to a Palestinian committee vetted by Israel, overseen by an international "Board of Peace" chaired by Trump and including Tony Blair. This transition is fraught with political and security risks.
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Regional Dynamics: The involvement of Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey as guarantors reflects a rare regional consensus but also highlights competing interests. Turkey’s participation, despite its criticism of Israel, and Egypt’s role as mediator underscore the delicate balance.
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Political Calculations: Trump’s public praise of Netanyahu and calls for his pardon amid corruption charges reveal political motivations intertwined with diplomacy. His disparagement of predecessors and self-promotion suggest the deal also serves domestic political narratives.
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Skepticism on Lasting Peace: Analysts caution that ceasefires in the region have historically been fragile. The absence of Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza and Hamas’s refusal to disarm could undermine long-term stability.
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Economic Reconstruction: Trump’s optimistic framing of Gaza’s rebuilding as "maybe the easiest part" overlooks the scale of devastation and political hurdles in mobilizing international aid and ensuring equitable reconstruction.
Outlook
The ceasefire will likely hold in the short term, providing humanitarian respite. However, the success of the broader peace plan depends on sustained international engagement, credible governance reforms in Gaza, and addressing the underlying Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Trump’s role as mediator is pivotal but politically charged, and the coming months will test whether this moment of hope can translate into durable peace.
What the papers say
Al Jazeera’s Ali Harb highlights Trump’s framing of the ceasefire as "the end of an age of terror" and notes his calls for pardoning Netanyahu despite corruption allegations, emphasizing the political undertones of the deal. The Japan Times underscores the celebratory atmosphere but cautions that "the next steps are likely to be harder," with experts like Jonathan Panikoff warning of the challenges ahead. The Times of Israel details the summit’s diplomatic breadth, noting Netanyahu’s absence and the signing of a document "going to spell out rules and regulations," while also quoting Trump’s optimism about the Abraham Accords expansion. SBS and The New Arab focus on the humanitarian aspects, reporting the exchange of hostages and prisoners and the pledges for Gaza’s reconstruction, with Egyptian President el-Sissi calling the deal a "last chance" for peace and a step toward a two-state solution. The Independent provides insight into Trump’s optimistic rhetoric about rebuilding Gaza and the financial commitments from wealthy Arab states, while also noting the absence of detailed public disclosure of the signed agreement. Together, these sources paint a picture of a historic but fragile ceasefire, marked by political theater, regional cooperation, and significant hurdles to lasting peace.
How we got here
The Gaza conflict began with Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, leading to a devastating Israeli military campaign killing over 67,000 Palestinians. Hostage-taking and prisoner detentions intensified the conflict. Previous peace efforts faltered amid deep regional tensions and political divisions, with Trump’s administration proposing a 20-point plan to end hostilities and stabilize Gaza.
Go deeper
- What are the main challenges to implementing the Gaza ceasefire?
- How did regional leaders contribute to the peace agreement?
- What role does the US play in the future governance of Gaza?
Common question
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What Role Did Trump Play in the Gaza Ceasefire?
Following recent developments in the Middle East, many are asking about the influence of former President Donald Trump in the Gaza ceasefire. His diplomatic efforts have garnered significant attention, raising questions about his involvement and the broader implications for regional peace. Below, we explore key questions about Trump's role, regional diplomacy, and what this means for Middle East stability.
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What Is the Significance of Trump's Gaza Ceasefire Deal?
In October 2025, a historic ceasefire was brokered between Israel and Hamas, marking a potential turning point in Middle East peace efforts. But what does this deal really mean for regional stability, and how might it influence ongoing conflicts? Below, we explore the key questions surrounding this significant development and what it could mean for the future of Gaza and the broader Middle East.
More on these topics
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia by a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula.
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The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.
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Qatar, officially the State of Qatar, is a country located in Western Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
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Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron is a French politician who has been President of France and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra since 14 May 2017.
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Mahmoud Abbas, also known by the kunya Abu Mazen, is the President of the State of Palestine and Palestinian National Authority.
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Isaac 'Bougie' Herzog is an Israeli politician. He served as a member of the Knesset between 2003 and 2018 and held several ministerial posts, including Minister of Welfare and Social Services.