WASHINGTON, D.C. — October 9, 2025, 12:34 pm EDT
By M. Brown, Staff Reporter
Israel’s acceptance of the first term of the Gaza peace deal marks a historic turning point in the two-year war, but it is only the beginning of a long and complex diplomatic process. Both Israel and Hamas have agreed to implement Term 1 of the Trump-brokered 20-point peace framework, which includes the release of 20 living hostages, the exchange of approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, and a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from populated areas in Gaza. Aid convoys are expected to enter the enclave within 72 hours of the agreement’s ratification, offering a lifeline to civilians who have endured famine, displacement, and bombardment.
However, the remaining articles of the agreement are far more contentious and will require sustained negotiation. Among the unresolved issues are the future governance of Gaza, Hamas’s disarmament, and the long-term security arrangements that would allow Israel to feel confident withdrawing its forces entirely. President Trump’s plan calls for an Arab-led international security force, supported by Palestinian police trained in Egypt and Jordan, to take over civil administration. Yet Israel has not formally endorsed this model, and Prime Minister Netanyahu faces internal pressure from far-right members of his coalition who oppose any arrangement that leaves Hamas intact or opens the door to Palestinian statehood.
Hamas, for its part, has signaled a willingness to relinquish governance of Gaza—but only to a technocratic Palestinian authority backed by Arab and Muslim nations. It has rejected any role for foreign figures like former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who Trump has proposed as part of a post-war oversight body. This divergence in visions for Gaza’s future will likely dominate the next phase of talks, which are expected to begin immediately after the hostages are released.
Israel must also contend with the security vacuum that could emerge if its forces withdraw too quickly. The IDF has indicated it will maintain a presence in buffer zones and along the Philadelphi Corridor near Egypt, citing concerns about arms smuggling and militant regrouping. Hamas has demanded a full withdrawal, but Trump’s guarantees appear to have persuaded them to begin the hostage release process first. Still, the timeline for complete troop withdrawal remains undefined, and any delay could reignite tensions.
Domestically, Netanyahu faces a delicate balancing act. While the hostage families and much of the Israeli public support the deal, his coalition partners have threatened to collapse the government if concessions to Hamas go too far. The Knesset is expected to ratify Term 1 later today, but future votes on subsequent articles could be far more divisive. Meanwhile, international mediators—including Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey—are working to keep both sides engaged and prevent backsliding.
In short, Israel should expect a gradual, high-stakes negotiation process in the coming weeks. The initial ceasefire and humanitarian relief are critical steps, but the deeper questions—who governs Gaza, how security is maintained, and whether this leads to broader regional peace—remain unresolved. The success of the deal will depend not only on diplomatic finesse but also on the ability of both sides to navigate internal political pressures and external expectations. For now, the guns may fall silent, but the negotiations are just beginning.
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