Year after Trump ceasefire, Gaza negotiations stall on disarmament and Israeli withdrawal
A year ago, Israel and Hamas agreed to a US-backed ceasefire to end a devastating two-year war that killed over 74,000 Palestinians. The agreement was divided into phases: the first involved hostage exchanges and humanitarian aid. Now, negotiations for the second phase have largely stalled. The main obstacles are disagreements over Hamas disarming and Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza. Israeli forces currently control roughly 63 to 70 percent of Gaza territory, up from about 53 percent at the ceasefire's start. International humanitarian organizations report over 1,400 Palestinians have been killed since the October 2025 ceasefire began, and aid deliveries have fallen far short of agreed amounts. The Board of Peace, an international body established to oversee Gaza's recovery and future governance, continues efforts to broker agreements, but both sides cite the other's failure to meet prior commitments as the reason for slow progress.
Key facts
- The Trump administration brokered a three-phase Gaza ceasefire plan that took effect October 10, 2025, after a two-year war that killed over 74,000 Palestinians.
- Israel currently controls 63 to 70 percent of Gaza, expanded from about 53 percent when the ceasefire began.
- Since October 2025, Israeli forces have killed at least 1,400 Palestinians, with humanitarian groups documenting over 2,000 ceasefire violations including airstrikes and incursions.
- Only 23,019 of the 54,000 required aid trucks entered Gaza from October 2025 to January 2026 - just 43 percent of promised amounts.
- Main sticking points: Hamas refuses to disarm before Israeli withdrawal; Israel refuses to withdraw before Hamas fully disarms.
- A Hamas disarmament agreement was announced in July 2026 but implementation remains uncertain pending Israeli compliance with its obligations.
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning outlets stress that Israel has systematically violated the ceasefire through continued airstrikes, territorial expansion, and restrictions on humanitarian aid. They highlight statements from over 100 NGOs calling the ceasefire meaningless on paper and cite UN experts characterizing ongoing Israeli operations as genocide. They emphasize that Palestinians face a humanitarian catastrophe with inadequate reconstruction efforts.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning perspectives, particularly Israeli officials and settlers, argue that Hamas refusal to disarm justifies continued Israeli military control. They cite security concerns and describe the ceasefire as incomplete without full Hamas demilitarization. Far-right figures advocate for permanent Israeli settlement and governance of Gaza, arguing that Israeli security demands preclude withdrawal before Hamas fully surrenders weapons.
Limits of this briefing
Coverage is dominated by left-leaning outlets critical of Israeli actions; explicitly right-wing perspectives are drawn partly from Israeli government officials rather than independent right-leaning media analysis. Recent diplomatic announcements on disarmament may not reflect ground realities or actual implementation timelines.
Sources
- Al Jazeera: Gaza ceasefire 'exists in name only', more than 100 NGOs say Left
- Council on Foreign Relations: A Guide to the Gaza Peace Deal Centre
- Washington Post: A US-brokered ceasefire was supposed to end the war in Gaza. A year later, progress has stalled Centre
- J Street: Nine Months In: Assessing the Status of the Gaza Ceasefire Left
- Time Magazine: Israel's Choice Centre