my timesThe Korea Times
  1. World

Year later, Gaza ceasefire promises mostly unfulfilled

Listen

Summary

The Gaza ceasefire has brought the release of all 20 remaining living hostages and one year without Hamas rocket attacks on Israel, but long-term promises remain largely unfulfilled. Israel has continued near-daily strikes and expanded its control from 53 percent to about 70 percent of Gaza. Hamas remains in charge of security and has not disarmed, while reconstruction funding has not reached Gaza despite a proposed $2.45 billion recovery plan.


Key Facts

  • Israeli strikes have killed about 1,450 Palestinians since the ceasefire, according to Gaza’s health ministry, whose figures are considered accurate by the United Nations.
  • Hamas appointed Khalil al-Hayya as its new leader in July and later announced it would give up its weapons, but no disarmament has occurred.
  • Ali Shaath was appointed to lead the U.S.-backed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, although Hamas effectively remains in charge of security.
  • Israel’s prime minister said 4,000 of the 6,000 people involved in the Oct. 7 attack had been killed.
  • The Board of Peace proposed a $2.45 billion Gaza recovery plan in September intended to span six months, but no reconstruction money is known to have reached Gaza.
By AFP
  • Published Oct 10, 2026 2:23 pm KST
 Israeli youth draw graffiti at a skatepark in Tel Aviv, Sept. 29. AFP-Yonhap

Israeli youth draw graffiti at a skatepark in Tel Aviv, Sept. 29. AFP-Yonhap

JERUSALEM — One year after U.S. President Donald Trump declared the war in Gaza to be over, few of the long-term promises of the ceasefire have come to fruition.

Here is a list of some of the key points of the Oct. 10, 2025, ceasefire and where things stand:

Hostages released, calm in Israel

Three days after the agreement was announced, Hamas freed the 20 remaining living hostages seized during the group's Oct. 7, 2023 attack, the deadliest day in Israel's history.

The captives' return was a key priority for Israel, whose public had agonized over their fate.

The ceasefire anniversary also marks one year of quiet for Israel from the Gaza front, with no rocket attacks by Hamas.

The group's missile inventory was depleted by near-constant Israeli bombardment, which damaged or destroyed the vast majority of buildings in the Palestinian territory.

The U.S. military set up a command post with foreign allies near the Gaza border to monitor the truce.

No Israeli withdrawal or let-up

Israel has reduced its level of attacks but has kept striking Gaza on a near-daily basis.

Israeli strikes have killed some 1,450 Palestinians since the ceasefire, according to Gaza's health ministry, which operates under Hamas and whose figures are considered accurate by the United Nations.

 Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a state memorial ceremony in the Mt. Herzl Cemetery, Jerusalem, Oct. 5. AP-Yonhap

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a state memorial ceremony in the Mt. Herzl Cemetery, Jerusalem, Oct. 5. AP-Yonhap

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in a tight election race, has vowed to kill everyone involved in the Oct. 7 attack.

Netanyahu said on the attack's anniversary that 4,000 out of 6,000 "Hamas monsters" had been killed.

Israeli forces were allowed to stay in 53 percent of Gaza under the terms of the ceasefire, but a year later they control about 70 percent of it, according to official accounts.

Hamas remains, with weapons

The second phase of the agreement was supposed to include a political transition away from Hamas, and technocrat Ali Shaath was appointed head of a new National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).

Hamas announced in July that it was disbanding its governing body and handing over Gaza's administration to the U.S.-blessed NCAG.

But Hamas effectively remains in charge of security in Gaza, and Shaath has taken a low profile.

The Palestinian Islamist movement elected a new leader, Khalil al-Hayya, in July. Shortly afterwards, the group announced it would give up its weapons, a step hailed by Trump as a breakthrough.

People search the rubble of a collapsed building following overnight Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, Oct. 9. AFP-Yonhap

People search the rubble of a collapsed building following overnight Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, Oct. 9. AFP-Yonhap

But Israel has been skeptical, with Netanyahu demanding verifiable decommissioning of all weapons down to individual guns.

Hamas has not gone ahead with disarmament, and Israel has refused to reciprocate by starting to withdraw forces.

Reconstruction just talk

Trump set up a new global body for the deal dubbed the "Board of Peace," tapping as key figures former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov, who serves as "Gaza high representative."

Trump, a critic of foreign aid, in January promised $10 billion in U.S. funding to the board he controls, and Gulf allies have pledged more, but no money is known to have made its way to Gaza reconstruction.

In September, the board proposed a $2.45 billion Gaza recovery plan at a meeting of its members and stakeholders, in an effort meant to span over six months.

Explore More

  • Q.

  • Q.

  • Q.