Gaza ceasefire stalls in second phase as talks continue on disarmament
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that began in October 2025 is now in its second phase of negotiations, but progress has stalled significantly. The Trump administration's 20-point peace plan established a three-phase process focused on hostage releases, disarmament, military withdrawal, and Gaza reconstruction. While the first phase successfully secured the return of all hostages by January 2026, the second phase has encountered major obstacles. Israel controls approximately 64 percent of Gaza territory instead of the 50 percent specified in the agreement, while disagreements persist over Hamas disarmament, Israeli troop withdrawal, and international governance structures. Both sides accuse each other of violations. Multiple humanitarian organizations report restricted aid delivery, with only about 43 percent of required humanitarian trucks entering Gaza since the ceasefire began. Ongoing Israeli strikes and casualties continue despite the nominal ceasefire, leaving more than 73,000 Palestinians killed since the 2023 conflict began.
Key facts
- Ceasefire began October 10, 2025 under Trump's 20-point peace plan
- All Israeli hostages returned by January 2026, marking completion of phase one
- Board of Peace established as transitional governance body to oversee implementation
- Israel controls approximately 64 percent of Gaza instead of 50 percent agreed
- Only 23,019 of 54,000 required humanitarian trucks entered Gaza from October 2025 to January 2026
- Gaza's Government Media Office documented 2,073 violations of ceasefire between October 2025 and March 2026
- Second phase negotiations stalled over Hamas disarmament before Israeli withdrawal completion
- Over 73,000 Palestinians killed and 1.9 million displaced since October 2023 conflict began
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning outlets highlight alleged Israeli violations of the ceasefire terms, including continued airstrikes that have killed hundreds during the truce and restrictions on humanitarian aid. They emphasize that Palestinians face a continuing humanitarian catastrophe and question whether Israel is genuinely committed to peace given its territorial expansion beyond agreed boundaries.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning analysis emphasizes Israeli security concerns and the threat posed by Hamas, with Netanyahu citing the need for permanent Israeli military control over Gaza's security. They argue that Hamas disarmament must occur before Israeli withdrawal and point to the need to prevent a recurrence of October 7 attacks.
Limits of this briefing
Casualty figures and violation counts vary between Israeli, Palestinian, and international sources. Right-leaning perspectives from Israeli security officials are drawn primarily from their own statements and analysis rather than dedicated right-leaning news outlets, as international coverage of this topic is dominated by left-leaning, centrist, and Middle Eastern sources.
Sources
- Al Jazeera: Neither war nor peace: What Gaza looks like six months into ceasefire Left
- CNN: US and Hamas hold first direct talks since Gaza truce as ceasefire process stalls Centre
- Council on Foreign Relations: A Guide to the Gaza Peace Deal Centre
- J Street: Nine Months In: Assessing the Status of the Gaza Ceasefire Left
- Israel Education and Dialogue: Israeli Prime Minister Rejects Gaza Roadmap, August 2026 Right