Gaza ceasefire stalls one year in: violence continues, reconstruction blocked
A US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in October 2025 under a twenty-point peace plan. The agreement was meant to end major military operations and lead to Hamas disarmament, Israeli withdrawal, and Gaza's reconstruction. One year later, the ceasefire exists largely on paper. Israeli forces have killed approximately 1,500 Palestinians since the agreement began, with attacks continuing almost daily. Meanwhile, nearly no reconstruction has occurred, and Gaza's two million residents remain displaced in camps or rubble. The core problem is a deadlock: Hamas says it won't disarm until Israel fully withdraws; Israel says it won't withdraw until Hamas disarms. An international Board of Peace oversees implementation, but consensus among all parties remains elusive. Multiple peace initiatives by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey continue, but significant progress on resolving these fundamental disagreements has stalled.
Key facts
- Ceasefire took effect October 10, 2025, based on Trump's 20-point peace plan
- Israeli forces have killed approximately 1,500 Palestinians since ceasefire began; 1,400 to 1,538 reported across sources as of late October 2026
- Nearly one Palestinian child killed every day since ceasefire announcement, according to humanitarian organizations
- Almost no reconstruction occurred; Gaza's 2 million residents remain in tent camps or rubble
- Israel has not publicly agreed to Hamas disarmament proposal; Hamas says it won't disarm until Israel withdraws
- Board of Peace established to oversee implementation, but lacks consensus among member states
- At least 327 children killed since ceasefire; 5,498 Palestinians injured
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Progressive and human rights organizations stress that Israel continues killing Palestinians daily under the cover of a ceasefire and blocks reconstruction as collective punishment. They argue the agreement is meaningless without enforcement and cite UN experts concluding Israel is committing genocide despite the ceasefire. Left outlets highlight that nearly 1,400 Palestinians have been killed since October 2025, including hundreds of children.
Right-leaning coverage: Israeli right-wing perspectives, reflected in political figures like Finance Minister Smotrich and National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, argue that withdrawing from Gaza or allowing Hamas any governance role threatens Israeli security. They contend that Gaza withdrawal would create a terror-state adjacent to Israeli towns and that Israel must maintain control and strategic territory. Some warn that Hamas will not genuinely disarm and view continued Israeli military presence as necessary insurance.
Limits of this briefing
Most recent reporting emphasizes humanitarian and human rights violations under the ceasefire. Right-leaning media and Israeli security-focused perspectives are underrepresented in mainstream English-language reporting; this summary relies on analysis and political statements rather than direct right-wing news outlets. Palestinian internal political divisions and non-Hamas armed groups' role in implementation also remain underexplored.
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
- Amnesty International: Gaza ceasefire exists in name only, say more than 100 organizations Left
- Arab Center Washington DC: The Gaza Ceasefire That Quieted the World Left