Israel has signed a cease‑fire agreement with Hamas, releasing hostages and partially withdrawing forces from Gaza, officials said Thursday, October 9.
Does This Mean the War Is Over?
The cease‑fire agreement between Israel and Hamas was signed on Thursday, October 9, per Israel government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian. After hostages are freed, the Israeli army will pull back from parts of the Gaza Strip but will maintain control over about 53% of the area.
First Phase of the Peace Process
Reuters notes that this is only the first phase of the peace process. The deal includes freeing hostages held in Gaza, swapping them for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and a partial Israeli withdrawal. Key issues remain unresolved, including full Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza, Hamas disarmament, and who will ensure hostilities do not resume.
UN Secretary‑General Supports Cease‑Fire
UN Secretary‑General António Guterres welcomed the agreement with pleasure and pledged assistance. “We and our partners are ready to act—now,” he said, emphasizing full and permanent access for humanitarian workers to the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that his country would join an international group overseeing the cease‑fire between Israel and Hamas. The politician called for an immediate halt to Israeli attacks, the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and pledged Ankara’s help in rebuilding the region.
Turkey Joins International Oversight
As part of its commitment, Turkey will be a member of the international body tasked with supervising the implementation of the cease‑fire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
