This fall, on October 10, a surprise ceasefire in Gaza shook the world. Brokered by former U.S. President Donald Trump, the deal paused over a year of intense conflict—offering a glimpse of relief for civilians and sparking global debate 🤔.
Since October 7, 2023, Gaza faced a devastating humanitarian collapse. By early October 2025, local health authorities reported more than 66,000 Palestinians killed and over 168,000 injured. A man-made famine hit half a million people at the brink of starvation, and even after the truce, 1.6 million remained in acute food insecurity. Nearly 101,000 children under five risk severe malnutrition through mid-2026 💔.
Healthcare was nearly wiped out: just 10 of 36 hospitals still ran on limited power, and attacks on medical teams killed more than 1,700 workers. With strict blockades on food, medicine, and fuel, aid agencies managed just 60 trucks a day against a need for up to 600.
Legal alarms rang too. In September, a U.N. inquiry found Israel’s actions met four of five criteria under the 1948 Genocide Convention. Genocide scholars largely agreed, while Israel insisted its campaign was lawful self-defence. The debate highlights deep rifts in international law and politics 🌍.
Trump’s 20-point Gaza Peace Plan locked in the ceasefire and swapped hostages: all Israeli captives in Gaza for 250 Palestinian life-sentence prisoners and 1,700 detainees. U.N. chief António Guterres described it as a desperately needed breakthrough, yet critics say the deal favors Israel’s goal of weakening Hamas without guaranteeing Palestinian statehood.
Looking ahead to 2026, the truce feels fragile. With core issues unresolved—statehood, reconstruction, trust—the risk is a relapse into stalemate. For Gaza’s residents and supporters worldwide, the ceasefire is both a hopeful pause and a stark reminder that real peace will demand more than a handshake 🤝.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
