Today's News: Gaza Ceasefire, Hostage Release, and Donald Trump’s Middle East Peace Efforts

A US-brokered ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict has led to the release of 20 living Israeli hostages. US President Donald Trump celebrated the achievement with a victory tour in Israel.

Oct 14, 2025

Photo: Ebrahim Hajjaj/Reuters

Overview

Date: October 13-14, 2025
Summary: A US-brokered ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict has led to the release of 20 living Israeli hostages. US President Donald Trump, who spearheaded the 20-point peace plan, celebrated the achievement with a victory tour in Israel and a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, declaring the war over and hailing a “new Middle East.” While the immediate cessation of hostilities and hostage return brought relief, significant challenges remain concerning the demilitarization of Hamas, future governance of Gaza, reconstruction, and the path to Palestinian self-determination.

Sources

Key Points

A US-brokered ceasefire agreement has been reached in the Israel-Gaza conflict, leading to the release of 20 living Israeli hostages.
US President Donald Trump played a central role in negotiating the deal and celebrated it as a significant personal and diplomatic triumph, undertaking a victory lap in Israel and hosting a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
Trump presented a 20-point peace plan outlining a comprehensive solution for Gaza, including the demilitarization of Hamas, establishment of an international security force, reconstruction, and new governance structures.
Despite the initial success of the ceasefire and hostage release, all articles acknowledge that the implementation of “Phase 2” of the plan, addressing long-term issues, will be significantly more challenging.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump for his efforts, calling him “the best friend Israel has ever had in the White House.”
The peace plan aims to transform the Middle East and potentially expand the Abraham Accords, with Trump expressing hopes for lasting harmony in the region.

Unique Highlights

The Guardian provides detailed accounts of Trump’s interactions with various world leaders at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, including specific praise for Giorgia Meloni, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, and insults directed at the Iraqi and Canadian prime ministers. It notes the Iranian president declined the invitation.
El País highlights Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s strong stance, openly defining the Gaza events as “genocide” and committing to pursuing justice for Benjamin Netanyahu’s government through the International Criminal Court. Sánchez also discussed the possibility of Spain sending peacekeeping troops to Gaza and maintaining an arms embargo on Israel.
The New York Times features insights from Palestinian and Israeli analysts, such as Akram Atallah, Zohar Palti, and Nimrod Novik, who express skepticism about the feasibility of Hamas disarming and the long-term success of Phase 2, emphasizing the ideological challenge for Hamas.
CNN (As Israel celebrates…) focuses on the emotional experience of residents from Kibbutz Nir Oz, a community heavily impacted by the October 7, 2023 attacks, as they awaited the return of their loved ones. It describes their frustration when Trump’s visit and speeches overshadowed the live coverage of the hostage reunions.
CNN (How Trump’s Gaza triumph…) offers an analytical perspective on Trump’s approach to foreign policy, crediting his “unpredictability” and use of real estate moguls (Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner) as negotiators. It also discusses Trump’s past actions in the Middle East and the potential implications for his domestic politics and other global ventures like the Ukraine war.
NBC News specifically mentions the Hostages Families Forum’s call for an “immediate suspension” of the ceasefire agreement until all 28 bodies of deceased hostages are returned, citing a breach of commitment as only four were repatriated.
The Washington Post highlights Trump’s sidestepping of critical issues like the West Bank and Palestinian statehood during his speeches. It details the lack of public commitment from countries to participate in an international stabilization force and the demand for a UN Security Council mandate, with French President Emmanuel Macron working on this framework.
The Wall Street Journal reports specific accusations of ceasefire violations by both Israel and Hamas on Tuesday, including Hamas claiming Israeli troops killed Gaza residents and Israel stating suspects crossed a “yellow line.” It also notes Hamas has deployed armed security forces throughout Gaza since Israeli troops pulled out.
Fox News provides details from Brig. Gen. (res.) Amir Avivi on Israel’s strategic control over 53% of the Gaza Strip, including key corridors, after their pullback, which he says helped compel Hamas to agree to the ceasefire.

Contrasting Details

Status of the War: US President Donald Trump repeatedly declared “The war is over” in his speeches in Israel and Egypt, as reported by NBC News and The New York Times. However, NBC News also reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking on television, stated, “The campaign is not over” and that “some of our enemies are trying to recover in order to attack us again.”
Return of Deceased Hostages: NBC News and The Wall Street Journal report that the Hostages Families Forum called for an “immediate suspension” of the ceasefire agreement because only four of 28 deceased hostages’ bodies were returned, breaching a commitment. The Wall Street Journal adds that Hamas communicated to mediators that it didn’t know where all the bodies were. CNN (As Israel celebrates…) mentions that for the Nir Oz community, five of their own deceased were still inside the enclave.
Palestinian Statehood and Future Governance: Trump’s 20-point plan (mentioned across multiple sources) offers vague future possibilities for Palestinian self-determination, with The Washington Post quoting Trump saying, “At some point, I’ll decide what I think is right.” The Washington Post and The New York Times emphasize that Trump largely sidestepped the issue of Palestinian statehood and the West Bank. In contrast, El País highlights Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s firm stance that “Peace cannot mean forgetting or impunity for the genocide in Gaza,” and his insistence on supporting a two-state solution and the recognition of Palestine. The Washington Post also notes that much of the Arab world insists on a viable sovereign Palestinian state first.
Hamas Disarmament and Control: Trump’s plan (mentioned by The New York Times, The Washington Post, NBC News) calls for Hamas to disarm and be barred from governance in Gaza. However, The Wall Street Journal reports that Hamas has deployed armed security forces throughout the Gaza Strip since Israeli troops pulled out, raising concerns about whether the group will actually hand over power and disarm. The New York Times quotes Palestinian analyst Akram Atallah, who states that Hamas was founded on bearing arms and is effectively being asked to “dismantle its ideology,” making disarmament a non-simple administrative measure.

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