Gaza ceasefire stalls as Israel and Hamas clash over disarmament terms
A US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began in October 2025 as part of a multi-phase peace plan. The agreement required hostage releases and Israeli military withdrawal. However, nearly a year into the ceasefire, peace efforts have stalled. A July 2026 agreement on Hamas disarmament was rejected by Israel in August. Key issues remain unresolved: Israel demands full Hamas disarmament before withdrawing troops, while Hamas refuses to discuss disarmament until Israel fully implements ceasefire terms. Violations have mounted—over 4,300 documented since October 2025—with both sides accusing the other of breaches. More than 72,000 Palestinians died in the 2023-2025 war. Humanitarian access remains restricted, with only 43 percent of needed aid trucks entering Gaza by January 2026. A technocratic Palestinian administration envisioned in the peace plan has not yet begun governing.
Key facts
- A US-backed ceasefire agreement began October 10, 2025, as Phase One of a Trump administration peace plan
- Israel and Hamas agreed to a Hamas disarmament roadmap in July 2026, but Israel rejected it in August 2026
- Israel has violated the ceasefire at least 4,379 times from October 2025 to August 2026 according to Gaza officials
- Over 72,000 Palestinians were killed during the 2023-2025 war preceding the ceasefire
- As of January 2026, only 23,019 of 54,000 planned humanitarian aid trucks had entered Gaza
- Israel expanded territorial control from 53 percent to over 60 percent of Gaza since the ceasefire began
- Phase Two, which should address Hamas disarmament, Israeli withdrawal, and reconstruction, remains stalled as of September 2026
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning outlets highlight Israeli military violations and humanitarian failures. They note that Israel has violated the ceasefire over 4,000 times with near-daily attacks, killed hundreds since October 2025, restricted aid shipments, and expanded territorial control beyond agreed lines. These sources emphasize that Israel's rejection of the disarmament plan undermines peace prospects and argue the occupation must end for Palestinians to recover.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning outlets, particularly Israeli sources, emphasize security concerns and Hamas's unreliability. They argue Israel cannot withdraw without guaranteeing Hamas is completely disarmed, citing the group's history of attacks. Netanyahu's government rejected the Board of Peace disarmament plan, insisting on full demilitarization first. This framing prioritizes Israeli security over reconstruction timelines.
Limits of this briefing
Coverage varies significantly by outlet; Israeli media emphasizes security concerns while Palestinian and international sources highlight humanitarian impact. Right-leaning perspectives are underrepresented in search results, with most English-language reporting from centrist or left-leaning outlets. Casualty figures and violation counts differ slightly depending on source methodology.
Sources
- Al Jazeera: 'Neither war nor peace': What Gaza looks like six months into 'ceasefire' Left
- Council on Foreign Relations: A Guide to the Gaza Peace Deal Centre
- CNN: US and Hamas hold first direct talks since Gaza truce as ceasefire process stalls Centre
- Times of Israel: Netanyahu says Israel 'didn't agree' to Board of Peace's terms for disarming Hamas Right
- International Crisis Group: Hollow Promises: Resetting Gaza's Ceasefire Centre