Gaza ceasefire enters fragile second phase amid implementation disputes
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began in October 2025 as part of a Trump administration 20-point peace plan, supported by a UN Security Council resolution. The agreement entered its second phase in January 2026 after Hamas returned the remains of the last Israeli hostage. Phase two aims to address Hamas disarmament, Israeli troop withdrawal, and Gaza reconstruction. However, implementation has stalled significantly. Multiple sources document over 2,000 ceasefire violations since October, including Israeli airstrikes that have killed approximately 1,100 Palestinians. The agreement also faces disputes over Hamas disarmament demands, the pace of Israeli withdrawal, and humanitarian aid delivery. As of July 2026, negotiators from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the US announced a disarmament roadmap, but both sides expressed reservations. The Board of Peace, a US-led body, continues efforts to advance negotiations, though differing positions among parties on governance and security have hindered progress.
Key facts
- Ceasefire began October 10, 2025, as first phase of Trump's 20-point Gaza peace plan
- Agreement moved to second phase in January 2026 after hostage remains returned
- Gaza Government Media Office documented 2,073 ceasefire violations between October 2025 and March 2026
- Only 23,019 of 54,000 promised aid trucks entered Gaza in first four months—43 percent of target
- Israeli airstrikes killed approximately 1,100 Palestinians since ceasefire began, according to multiple sources
- Board of Peace announced Hamas disarmament roadmap in late July 2026, but Israel had not publicly agreed
- Israeli forces control approximately 64 percent of Gaza territory, versus 53 percent under original agreement
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning sources highlight systematic Israeli ceasefire violations, restricted humanitarian aid, and what they characterize as Israel's expansion of military control. They note that only 43 percent of promised aid trucks entered Gaza in the first phase, essential items like meat and dairy were blocked, and Israeli airstrikes continued throughout the supposed ceasefire. Critics argue Israel has used conditions like Hamas disarmament demands to delay meaningful implementation of its withdrawal commitments.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning sources emphasize security concerns and Hamas's continuing threat. The FDD's Long War Journal and similar outlets highlight Israeli counterterrorism operations against militant cells, reports of smuggled dual-use items meant for Hamas, and concerns about enforcement mechanisms. They frame disarmament as essential for stability and focus on Hamas's reluctance to fully comply with weapons restrictions.
Limits of this briefing
Coverage reflects major international media and think tank perspectives; Arab media views and Israeli right-wing critiques appear less prominently in English-language sources. Casualty figures vary by source and remain contested, with Palestinian authorities providing higher estimates than other sources.
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
- J Street: Nine Months In: Assessing the Status of the Gaza Ceasefire Left
- Foundation for Defense of Democracies: Israel continues operations against Hamas in Gaza, diplomats push for disarmament Right
- CNN: US and Hamas hold first direct talks since Gaza truce as ceasefire process stalls Centre