October 15, 2025 | 04:36 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has announced the start of 'phase two' of the Gaza ceasefire agreement following the release of 20 Israeli hostages in the first stage of the deal, mediated by Turkey, the US, Qatar, and Egypt.
"All twenty hostages are back and feeling as good as can be expected," Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Tuesday, as quoted by Anadolu.
"A big burden has been lifted, but the job is not done. The dead have not been returned, as promised! Phase Two begins right now!!!"
Phase Two Objectives
Phase two of the agreement calls for the establishment of a new governance structure in Gaza, the deployment of multinational forces, and the disarmament of Hamas.
The initial phase involved a prisoner exchange, freeing hundreds of Palestinian detainees and Israeli hostages from Ofer military prison and other detention facilities in the Negev Desert. All 20 hostages and living Israeli prisoners of war were released.
Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held a high-level meeting on Monday in Sharm el-Sheikh, gathering world leaders to secure international support for the ceasefire plan.
Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have claimed the lives of more than 67,800 Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the majority women and children, leaving the enclave nearly uninhabitable.
Israeli Violations Continue
Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces reportedly killed at least five Palestinians in Gaza City this week, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera. Residents of the Shujayea neighborhood were among the victims.
The Israeli military claimed it fired on individuals who approached troops in northern Gaza, saying the targets crossed the yellow line established under the ceasefire. However, the incident highlights ongoing tensions and uncertainty in maintaining the truce.
Challenges Ahead
Hamas and Israel agreed last week to halt hostilities and repatriate all remaining Israeli prisoners, both living and deceased, in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
The first phase also includes a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, with troops relocating from the front line to the yellow relocation line.
According to a map distributed by Trump, 58 percent of Gaza remains under Israeli control, underscoring the limited scope of the initial ceasefire and the uncertainty surrounding future phases, which aim to rebuild Gaza and eventually form a Palestinian state.
Israel has not pledged to fully withdraw from the enclave. White House documents indicate that Israeli forces may remain in the buffer zone until the "terrorism threat" is eliminated—a clause experts warn could allow for an indefinite military presence.
The Shujayea district is expected to remain under Israeli control, further complicating stability efforts.
The killings in Gaza highlight the fragile nature of the ceasefire as hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians attempt to return home. Key unresolved issues, such as the disarmament of Hamas, continue to pose significant risks.
Tensions are also rising between Hamas and other armed Palestinian factions, some allegedly supported by Israel. On Sunday, Gaza's Interior Ministry reported clashes that killed at least 27 people, including eight Hamas members, during a confrontation with an armed clan.
The situation underscores the complexity of enforcing the ceasefire and the long road ahead toward lasting peace in Gaza.
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