October 11, 2025 – Gaza City, Palestine
In a pivotal moment for the protracted Israel-Hamas conflict, three major Palestinian factions—Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)—issued a unified statement on Friday, October 10, urging key international mediators to enforce Israel's strict adherence to the newly inked Gaza ceasefire agreement. The joint declaration, released amid cautious optimism across the region, highlighted the factions' "deep appreciation" for the "tireless efforts" of Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar, while pressing the United States and all involved parties to "maintain pressure to ensure the occupation’s full commitment to every clause of the agreement."
This statement arrives just days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, October 8, that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of his ambitious 20-point peace plan, unveiled on September 29. The deal, brokered through intense backchannel negotiations involving Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, marks the most significant de-escalation attempt since the war erupted on October 7, 2023. It promises an immediate ceasefire, the release of all remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, and a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian factions' communiqué, signed collectively from Gaza and Beirut, underscores the grueling negotiations that preceded the accord. "We have made tremendous and exhausting efforts to secure the release of all Palestinian detainees, including women and national leaders," the statement read. It accused Israel of "obstructing the release of a significant number of them," a reference to high-profile figures like Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, who remains incarcerated despite his inclusion on Hamas's proposed exchange list. Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian confirmed on Thursday that Barghouti's release was not planned, citing his role in the Second Intifada, which has drawn sharp rebukes from Palestinian civil society groups.
Framing the agreement as "a political and security failure for the Israeli occupation," the factions celebrated it as a thwarting of Israel's alleged plans for forced displacement of Gaza's 2.3 million residents. "This deal is a testament to the resistance’s steadfastness and national unity," they declared, reaffirming that the liberation of all Palestinian prisoners—estimated at over 10,000 held in Israeli facilities—remains a "top national priority." The groups pledged unwavering support for detainees and their families, vowing not to "abandon the cause" even as the ceasefire takes hold.
Beyond immediate humanitarian gains, the statement called for broader Palestinian reconciliation. It urged "national unity and a comprehensive Palestinian political dialogue," proposing an "inclusive meeting under Egyptian auspices" to forge a unified national strategy for the post-ceasefire era. This would encompass rebuilding national institutions, bolstering social solidarity in Gaza, and coordinating between factions, civil society organizations, and international humanitarian bodies. Rejecting "any form of foreign guardianship or external control," the factions insisted that Gaza's administration is a "purely Palestinian matter." However, they extended a tentative welcome to Arab and international participation in reconstruction, recovery, and development initiatives, signaling a pragmatic openness to multilateral aid without ceding sovereignty.
The timing of this unified voice from Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the PFLP is no coincidence. It comes as the first phase of Trump's plan activates, with the ceasefire officially taking effect at 12:00 local time on Friday, October 10, according to the Israeli military. Under the agreement, Hamas is obligated to release all 48 remaining Israeli and foreign hostages—20 of whom are believed alive—within 72 hours. In return, Israel will free around 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences for security offenses and 1,700 detainees arrested in Gaza since October 2023. The Rafah crossing, Gaza's vital lifeline to Egypt, will reopen in both directions, subject to mechanisms from a prior January 2025 accord, facilitating a surge in humanitarian aid including food, water, medical supplies, and equipment for rubble removal.
Trump's 20-point blueprint, hailed by the president as a pathway to "lasting peace," envisions a multi-phased resolution. The initial stage prioritizes de-escalation: an unconditional ceasefire, phased Israeli troop withdrawals to the Strip's borders, and unrestricted aid flows at levels matching or exceeding the January 2025 agreement. Aid will target infrastructure rehabilitation—water systems, electricity grids, sewage networks, hospitals, and bakeries—while enabling the clearance of unexploded ordnance and debris from over 70% of Gaza's buildings, which have been damaged or destroyed.
Phase two, set to commence post-hostage release, introduces governance reforms. It proposes a temporary transitional committee of apolitical Palestinian technocrats to manage daily public services and municipalities in Gaza, supervised by a "Board of Peace" chaired by Trump himself and including figures like former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. This body would oversee funding for redevelopment until the Palestinian Authority (PA), based in the West Bank, completes internal reforms aligned with Trump's 2020 peace plan and the Saudi-French proposal. Critically, the phase mandates Hamas's exclusion from governance, the formation of a joint Palestinian-Arab-Islamic security force, and the group's full disarmament—a stipulation that has sparked controversy.
Hamas's exiled Gaza chief, Khalil al-Hayya, addressed these elements in a televised speech on Thursday, announcing the group's acceptance of the first phase while qualifying phase two. "We agree to return all 48 remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and to hand over governance to Palestinian technocrats," al-Hayya stated. However, he emphasized that Hamas's disarmament and exclusion must be "discussed within a comprehensive Palestinian national framework," with the group retaining a "full responsibility" role. This nuanced response echoes Hamas's October 3 statement, where it accepted core elements like hostage release but sought amendments to others, viewing U.S. proposals as overly Israel-centric.
International reactions have been swift and layered. U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer praised the deal as a "huge sigh of relief" for hostage families, Israelis, and Palestinians alike, but stressed the need for "careful implementation." Republican Senator Lindsey Graham echoed Trump's optimism, calling it "good news" while insisting on Hamas's complete disarmament to prevent a return to "old ways." In the Middle East, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the accord, prioritizing "immediate commitment to a complete ceasefire, the release of all hostages and prisoners, and urgent humanitarian aid through UN organizations" to avert displacement or annexation.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, speaking from Cairo, credited the mediation trio—Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye—for bridging gaps, with Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan noting "a lot of headway" in talks. Qatar, which hosted indirect negotiations, confirmed the deal's mechanisms would ensure aid delivery without politicization. Yet, skepticism lingers. A senior Hamas official, Dr. Basem Naim, told Sky News that while the ceasefire "would not have happened without Trump," the U.S. president must sustain pressure on Israel to avoid violations. Naim also dismissed Tony Blair's potential involvement, citing "bad memories" from his Iraq and Afghanistan tenures.
The human toll of the conflict, now entering its third year, cannot be overstated. Since Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack—which killed 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and abducted 251—Israel's retaliatory campaign has devastated Gaza. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, nearly 67,200 Palestinians have been killed, the majority women and children, with over 150,000 injured. The enclave, once home to bustling markets and universities, is now largely uninhabitable: 90% of its population displaced, 80% of schools destroyed, and famine-like conditions persisting despite intermittent aid. UNICEF reported evacuating 18 newborns from northern hospitals this week, reuniting them with families in the south—a small but poignant victory amid the rubble.
On the ground, the ceasefire's first hours brought tentative joy. In Khan Younis and Nuseirat refugee camps, displaced families celebrated with chants and sweets, though many expressed wariness. "We welcome the pause, but what of our homes? What of our future?" asked Aisha al-Masri, a mother of four sheltering in a tent. Thousands began trekking north toward Gaza City on Friday, driven by desperation rather than assurance of safety, as Israeli forces repositioned per the deal. The Israeli military reported no violations in the initial 24 hours, with troops pulling back from key corridors.
Challenges loom large. Negotiations for phases two and three—encompassing full demilitarization, PA reintegration, and economic revitalization—could falter over Hamas's role and Israel's security demands. Analysts warn of "fragile" truces, recalling breakdowns in November 2023 and January 2025. Regional powers like Saudi Arabia and France have signaled readiness to fund reconstruction, estimated at $50 billion, but only under a framework ensuring stability. The Palestinian factions' call for unity aims to preempt fractures, with the proposed Egyptian-hosted dialogue potentially including the PA to bridge Gaza-West Bank divides.
As mediators reconvene virtually this weekend, the world's eyes remain on Gaza. Trump's plan, for all its flaws, has ignited a flicker of hope in a conflict that has reshaped the Middle East. Whether it endures as "strong, durable, and everlasting peace," as the president claims, hinges on enforcement, equity, and the unyielding resolve of Palestinians to shape their destiny. For now, in the quiet after two years of thunder, Gaza breathes—if only for a moment.
