Netanyahu and Hamas Sign First Phase of Gaza Peace Deal

When Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel shook hands with senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad on Thursday, 9 October 2025, the world heard the words “first phase of the Gaza peace deal” for the first time outside a press‑conference room. The announcement, made in Cairo under the watchful eye of Egypt’s intelligence chief, marked the culmination of 18 days of back‑room talks that began on 21 September.

The agreement, drafted by U.S. President Donald Trump and mediated by Egyptian officials, promises the release of 105 Israeli hostages and roughly 1,700 Palestinian prisoners, a full Israeli‑Defense‑Forces pull‑out from the Gaza Strip, and an immediate humanitarian corridor through the Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings. If Israel’s emergency cabinet ratifies the deal today, a cease‑fire will snap into place within hours, ending the bloodiest stretch of the conflict since the Oct 7, 2023 attacks.

Background: From Oct 7 to Cairo

Since Hamas launched its Oct 7 offensive, more than 7,300 Palestinians have perished and over 1,400 Israelis have been killed, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The ensuing Israeli siege has left the Gaza Strip with less than 30 percent of its pre‑war electricity and a crippled water network. Over the past two years, countless UN‑run convoys have been turned back at the border, fueling desperation on both sides.

Egypt, long‑standing mediator in the Israeli‑Palestinian stalemate, reopened its secret negotiation rooms in Cairo on 21 September after a failed Swiss summit in Geneva. Director of General Intelligence Abbas Kamel and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff shuttled daily between the two parties, hammering out a framework that would later become the first‑phase deal.

What the First Phase Actually Entails

• Hostage‑prisoner swap: 105 Israeli civilians and soldiers return via the Kerem Shalom crossing, monitored by UNTSO and Egyptian observers; 1,700 Palestinian detainees – 892 administrative detainees and 808 convicted prisoners – are freed from Ofer and Shikma prisons.
• Israeli‑Defense‑Forces withdrawal: Approximately 25,000 troops and all heavy equipment leave Gaza within 14 days.
• Humanitarian influx: UNRWA and the World Food Programme deliver up to 500 truckloads of aid daily, under UN supervision.
• Monitoring mechanisms: A multinational force, led by the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) based in the Sinai, will verify compliance for the next 72 hours.

BBC correspondents Rushi Sultan and Yoland Saadeh, who were on air at 12:29 PM UTC, conveyed the atmosphere in the studio: “Families are sobbing, but there’s also this strange, hopeful buzz. It’s not just Israel that will feel relief; Gaza’s whole population sees a potential end to the siege.”

Reactions on the Ground

In Gaza’s Jabalia and Rafah refugee camps, residents gathered in makeshift squares, chanting prayers and waving small flags. “We can finally breathe again,” whispered Fatima al‑Hussein, a mother of three, to a local radio crew. Across the Mediterranean, Israeli families at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square lit candles and embraced, their relief palpable.

Meanwhile, hard‑line factions expressed scepticism. Hamas’ political bureau reiterated that disarmament will only follow the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital – a condition rooted in the charter dated 18 August 1988. The statement came from Hamas spokesperson Khaled Moussa, who warned that any deviation could reignite hostilities.

Political Hurdles and Next Steps

Back in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Netanyahu convened an emergency cabinet meeting at the Kirya military headquarters. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National‑Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir signalled possible dissent, fearing the deal could undermine settlement expansion plans. Still, pressure from hostage‑family groups – notably the Hostages and Missing Families Forum – has kept the political calculus tight.

President Trump is slated to touch down at Ben Gurion International Airport on Saturday, 11 October 2025, before addressing the 120‑member Knesset on Sunday at 10:00 AM IST. His speech is expected to underline the United States’ commitment to the peace framework and to push Israeli hard‑liners toward acceptance.

If the cabinet signs off today, the first exchanges should begin within the next 72 hours. A second phase, originally pencilled in for 24 October, would demand Hamas hand over an estimated 15,000 rockets and 500 mortars – a demand that remains contentious.

Historical Context and Why It Matters

Since the Oslo Accords of 1993, no agreement has managed to hold both sides to a comprehensive cease‑fire and prisoner exchange. The 2008‑09 Gaza‑War cease‑fire, brokered by Egypt, collapsed after a few weeks, leading to another round of violence. The present deal differs in three key ways: it is directly linked to a U.S. presidential initiative, it includes a quantified Israeli troop withdrawal, and it establishes a UN‑supervised humanitarian corridor from day one.

Experts say the success or failure of this first phase will ripple across the entire Middle East. “If the cease‑fire holds, we could see a realignment of regional powers, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE more willing to engage in a broader peace process,” notes Dr. Leila Abdul‑Rahman, senior fellow at the International Crisis Group. “Conversely, a collapse would embolden extremist groups and deepen mistrust for a generation.”

Key Facts

• Date of announcement: 9 October 2025
• Location: Cairo, Egypt (negotiation hub)
• Primary actors: Benjamin Netanyahu, Ghazi Hamad, Donald Trump, Abbas Kamel
• Immediate outcomes: 105 Israeli hostages released, 1,700 Palestinian prisoners freed, IDF withdrawal begins
• Next major event: Trump’s Knesset address on 12 October 2025