Gaza ceasefire enters Phase Two with tensions high after six months
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in October 2025 after negotiations brokered by the Trump administration. Phase One involved the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, which concluded in January 2026. Phase Two, announced in mid-January, aims to shift toward Hamas disarmament, establishing new Palestinian governance through a technocratic committee, and eventual reconstruction through a Board of Peace chaired by President Trump. However, the ceasefire remains fragile. Gaza's Government Media Office documents over 2,400 ceasefire violations through April 2026, resulting in more than 700 Palestinian deaths since October. Israel controls roughly 50-55 percent of Gaza through a demarcation called the Yellow Line, with limited military withdrawal. Humanitarian aid has fallen well short of promised levels. Core disagreements persist: Israel demands Hamas disarmament before reconstruction; Hamas contradicts whether it agreed to full disarmament. A UN-backed stabilization force has not yet been formed. The International Committee on reconstruction and the Board of Peace continue negotiations on how to proceed.
Key facts
- Gaza ceasefire agreement signed October 9, 2025, entered effect October 10, 2025
- Phase One completed January 2026 after Hamas returned remains of last Israeli hostage
- Phase Two launched January 14, 2026, focusing on Hamas disarmament and Palestinian governance
- Gaza Government Media Office documents 2,400+ ceasefire violations through April 2026
- Over 700 Palestinians killed in Gaza since ceasefire began, according to official Palestinian sources
- Israel controls approximately 50-55 percent of Gaza Strip via Yellow Line demarcation
- Agreement pledged 600 trucks of humanitarian aid daily; only 37 percent of allocated trucks entered through February 2026
- Trump-led Board of Peace held first meeting February 18, 2026 with 27 countries; US committed 10 billion dollars
- International Stabilization Force for Gaza not yet deployed as of April 2026
- Estimated 72,000+ Palestinians killed in broader Gaza conflict since October 2023
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning outlets stress Israeli violations and insufficient humanitarian aid. Al Jazeera and pro-Palestinian sources highlight that Israel has breached the ceasefire repeatedly, killing hundreds of civilians, blocking food and medicine, and denying medical evacuations. They argue the ceasefire is designed to make Gaza invisible while maintaining Israeli control rather than achieving genuine peace or Palestinian self-determination.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning outlets and Israeli government representatives stress that Phase One succeeded: hostages returned, aid flowing, and the ceasefire established. They emphasize Hamas's continued heavy armament and argue that Israel is upholding its commitments while Hamas must now fully disarm. They view the Board of Peace as a legitimate framework and present Hamas disarmament as essential for lasting security.
Limits of this briefing
Coverage is split between outlets emphasizing Israeli security concerns and violations versus Palestinian humanitarian crisis and control of territory. Recent attention to U.S.-Iran conflict has reduced global media focus on Gaza. Casualty figures vary by source; Palestinian Ministry of Health reports differ from some international monitors.
Sources
- Al Jazeera: 'Neither war nor peace': What Gaza looks like six months into ceasefire Left
- The Washington Post / Washington Times: Gaza marks 6 months of a ceasefire that may offer lessons for the Iran war Centre
- Council on Foreign Relations: A Guide to Trump's Twenty-Point Gaza Peace Deal Centre
- The Times of Israel: US plans to start 2nd phase of Gaza deal before Hamas disarmed Right
- United Nations Press Release: Consolidate Gaza Ceasefire, Halt Escalating Violence, Settlement Activity in West Bank Centre