Fragile Gaza Ceasefire Tested by Renewed Violence and Aid Blockades

Despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, deadly attacks persist in Gaza, with hospitals receiving additional casualties. Palestinians report no significant improvement in their daily lives, highlighting the extreme fragility of the recent peace agreement. This comes after a deal aimed at ending the prolonged and devastating conflict.

theguardian.com reported, The U.S.-brokered "Gaza peace plan," announced by President Donald Trump on September 29, 2025, officially took effect on October 10, 2025. This multilateral agreement, negotiated with several Arab nations but notably not Palestine, sought to bring an end to the ongoing Gaza war.

As a key component of the deal, Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli hostages on October 13, 2025. Additionally, the remains of 15 slain Israeli hostages have been returned during the ceasefire period. In exchange, Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

theguardian.com noted, However, the ceasefire has been severely tested by renewed hostilities. Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes on October 19, 2025, after Hamas allegedly killed two Israeli soldiers. These strikes reportedly killed at least 45 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, raising serious concerns about the agreement's stability.

The humanitarian situation remains dire, with the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) warning of critically insufficient aid entering Gaza. Despite having ample supplies in regional warehouses, Israel continues to restrict UNRWA's access. This exacerbates an already catastrophic food insecurity crisis, with famine confirmed in Gaza City by mid-2025.

cbsnews.com reported, Palestinians returning to northern Gaza after Israeli troop withdrawals found widespread destruction, with 83% of structures in Gaza City damaged as of September 23, 2025. The persistent lack of essential supplies and ongoing violence mean many residents perceive little real change, despite the formal ceasefire.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Jared Kushner visited Israel on October 21, 2025, to reinforce the "fragile" ceasefire. Their visit underscores the international community's concern over the agreement's implementation amidst continued violence and humanitarian challenges.

• theguardian.com noted, Background of the Ceasefire and Prolonged Conflict: The current ceasefire, effective October 10, 2025, is a central component of a broader U.S.-led "Gaza peace plan" announced by President Donald Trump on September 29, 2025. This diplomatic initiative followed a period of intense renewed hostilities between March and October 2025, which erupted after earlier interim ceasefires in late 2023 and early 2025 had collapsed. The overarching conflict, which commenced on October 7, 2023, has resulted in widespread destruction across the Gaza Strip and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis affecting millions.

• Key Terms of the October 2025 Agreement: The agreement signed by Israel and Hamas on October 9, 2025, based on President Trump's proposal, outlined several critical provisions aimed at de-escalation and recovery. These included an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, the release of all Israeli hostages (both living and deceased) within 72 hours following an Israeli troop withdrawal, and reciprocal prisoner exchanges. Furthermore, the deal mandated the immediate and full entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, alongside a commitment for Israeli forces to withdraw to pre-agreed lines.

• theguardian.com reported, Hostage Release Progress and Ongoing Challenges: While Hamas successfully released all 20 remaining living Israeli hostages on October 13, 2025, the return of deceased hostages has been a more protracted and contentious issue. As of October 21, 2025, the bodies of 13 slain hostages were still reportedly held in Gaza, despite Hamas having returned the remains of 15 others during the ceasefire period. Israel has accused Hamas of violating the agreement by withholding these bodies, a claim that has directly impacted the flow of humanitarian aid into the enclave.

• Escalating Tensions and Mutual Accusations of Violations: The ceasefire has been severely undermined by frequent accusations of violations from both sides, leading to renewed violence. Gaza's media office reported 47 alleged Israeli violations since early October, resulting in the deaths of 38 Palestinians. Conversely, Israel cited Hamas's alleged killing of two Israeli soldiers on October 19, 2025, as justification for its retaliatory airstrikes, which Gaza health officials reported killed dozens of Palestinians, highlighting the agreement's precarious nature.

• cbsnews.com noted, Critical Aid Shortages and UNRWA's Restricted Access: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which serves as the primary provider of humanitarian assistance in Gaza, continues to face significant restrictions imposed by Israel. These restrictions prevent the entry of crucial supplies, despite UNRWA confirming it has sufficient food in regional warehouses to sustain Gaza's entire population for three months. Although the ceasefire agreement stipulated 600 aid trucks per day, Israel has reportedly reduced this to 300, citing delays in retrieving deceased captives' bodies. The World Court (ICJ) has explicitly mandated Israel to ease these aid restrictions.

• Devastating Long-term Humanitarian Impact: The prolonged conflict has created a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, culminating in a declaration of famine in Gaza City by mid-2025. Since October 2023, over 68,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 170,000 injured. The widespread destruction, with an estimated 83% of structures in Gaza City damaged as of September 23, 2025, leaves a vast population displaced and without basic necessities, severely impeding any meaningful recovery efforts.

• theguardian.com reported, Political Landscape and Uncertain Future Outlook: The visit by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Jared Kushner to Israel on October 21, 2025, aimed to reinforce the "fragile" ceasefire, underscoring ongoing high-level diplomatic engagement. However, significant disagreements persist between the parties, particularly concerning Hamas's demilitarization and the future governance of Gaza. These unresolved issues continue to complicate prospects for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region, leaving the future uncertain for its inhabitants.