A U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in Gaza, triggering a mass return of displaced Palestinians and launching a 72-hour timeline for a major hostage-prisoner exchange and partial Israeli withdrawal.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect at noon on October 10, 2025, halting hostilities for the first time since March and setting off a wave of displaced Palestinians returning north. The truce marks the first phase of a U.S.-led peace plan centred on a hostage-prisoner swap, troop withdrawals and increased humanitarian aid.
Under the agreement, Hamas must release all 48 remaining hostages within 72 hours. Israel will in turn free 250 prisoners serving life terms and 1,722 wartime detainees. Israeli forces have pulled back to new “updated deployment lines”, now controlling roughly 53 per cent of Gaza.
Thousands of Palestinians immediately began trekking back to Gaza City, jubilant despite widespread destruction. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hamas would be disarmed “the easy way or the hard way”, while Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya claimed the war “has ended completely”.
President Donald Trump, credited as key broker, is due to address the Knesset on Monday.