JERUSALEM — A year after the initial ceasefire in the Gaza conflict was brokered under former U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, progress toward a lasting resolution remains elusive. While the ceasefire, which took effect on October 10, 2025, ended full-scale hostilities and secured the release of hostages and prisoners held since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, key aspects of the plan—including disarming Hamas, Israeli troop withdrawal, and Gaza’s reconstruction—have largely stalled.
The first phase of Trump’s plan called for a suspension of military operations, an Israeli withdrawal to a defined “yellow line,” large-scale hostage releases, and a significant increase in humanitarian aid. In the subsequent phases, Hamas was expected to disarm, ceding governance to a technocratic Palestinian body supervised by the Trump-led Board of Peace. Control of Gaza was to be transferred gradually to an International Stabilization Force (ISF), with Israel retreating from territory incrementally.
Despite the absence of resumed major combat, Israeli forces continue near-daily strikes throughout Gaza, resulting in significant casualties. According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 1,400 Palestinians have died since the ceasefire began, while the Israeli military reports multiple incidents of attacks and claims targeted Hamas operatives. Israel states five soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire, either in combat or by Palestinian militants. Hamas denies allegations of renewed hostilities or rearmament.
Israeli military presence in Gaza has expanded beyond the agreed “yellow line,” now controlling approximately two-thirds of the enclave, a shift that has displaced many Palestinians. Roughly 2 million residents are confined to a shrinking coastal area, often living in damaged buildings or makeshift shelters. Pro-Israel Palestinian militias stationed within Israeli-held zones have launched attacks on Hamas-controlled territories.
Aid deliveries remain critically insufficient amid ongoing humanitarian challenges. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reports that over 1.2 million people continue to face acute hunger. While the ceasefire agreement envisioned at least 600 aid and commercial trucks entering Gaza daily, available data indicates the average has been less than half that number. Israel maintains that daily deliveries meet Gaza’s needs and that it upholds its obligations, though aid agencies accuse Israel of blocking crucial materials such as metal tent poles and engine parts, citing security concerns that they could be repurposed by Hamas.
The disarmament of Hamas represents another major hurdle. In July, Hamas agreed in principle to a 15-point roadmap proposed by the Board of Peace to relinquish weapons to a U.S.-backed Palestinian technocratic government, a stance marking a significant shift for the militant group, which avoided using the term “disarmament.” Israel, however, has expressed skepticism, rejecting the plan as insufficient and refusing to withdraw forces until Hamas is completely disarmed.
Efforts to establish an International Stabilization Force have advanced but remain incomplete. The ISF’s commander, U.S. Major General Jasper Jeffers, leads multinational contributions from countries including Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Albania, Kosovo, and Uganda. The force is envisioned to comprise 20,000 troops, alongside 12,000 trained Palestinian police. Meanwhile, the appointed technocratic Palestinian governing body for Gaza, led by Ali Shaath, has not yet taken control within the territory.
Rebuilding Gaza poses a massive challenge. One year on, many Palestinians continue to live amid rubble, salvaging materials to repair shelters. The Board of Peace announced a $2.45 billion reconstruction plan in September, a fraction of the $71.4 billion assessed by the European Union and United Nations as needed over the next decade.
Within Israel, political discourse has increasingly focused on the future of Gaza’s population. Some right-wing Israeli politicians advocate for what they term “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians, with Defence Minister Israel Katz calling it a necessary solution. An Israeli defense ministry office was established in 2025 to manage such efforts following suggestions by Trump, who later retracted support amid regional and international criticism. Israeli officials deny any plans for forced displacement.
Israel is holding a general election on October 27, the first since the 2023 Hamas attacks. The race is closely contested between pro- and anti-Netanyahu parties, and some opposition leaders have expressed support for Trump’s peace plan, underscoring its continued influence on the country’s political landscape.