On Oct. 10, a peace deal went into effect between Israel and Hamas after two years of intense warfare following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack on Israel. U.S. President Donald Trump announced in late September that his administration had gotten both sides of the conflict to agree to phase one of a deal, which would include a cessation of hostilities and the release of the remaining Israeli hostages, plus a large number of Palestinian prisoners.
CNN reported that the Trump administration brokered a deal that included 20 points to be worked through in stages. Outside of the return of hostages and prisoners, the plan calls on Israel to immediately allow for an increase in humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. In order for the plan to progress onto the final stages, Hamas must cede its arms and military control to an “interim security force.” The US administration has not yet identified where and how this security force will be deployed.
Vice President J.D. Vance recently arrived in Tel Aviv, Israel, as aid has begun trickling into Gaza, and tensions are high as it is already unclear whether the deal will hold. Hamas gunmen have been carrying out public executions of Palestinians, and it appears that they are not willing to disarm – a violation of the Trump administration’s ceasefire deal. President Trump has said that if this continues, he will have no choice but to allow Israel to continue the war.
The current situation in Israel and Gaza can be summarized as a very tentative peace. The return of hostages who have been prisoners for over two years is unquestionably good news, but it remains to be seen if the rest of the deal will play out and hold.
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