The peace agreement between Israel and Hamas has remained largely intact since it went into effect on Monday. However, the situation is still tenuous, with both parties accusing the other of violating the terms of the accord.
The agreement’s first phase required Hamas to release the remaining 20 hostages it kidnapped on October 7, 2023, along with the bodies of hostages who died during the fighting. In return, Israel released about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israel has redeployed its troops to an agreed-upon “yellow line.”
There will also be an uptick in humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians. Israel has also agreed to reopen Rafah, a city located on the border of the Gaza Strip and Egypt, so that civilians can freely cross between regions.
Over the long term, Hamas will be expected to demilitarize while a transitional Palestinian government is established.
However, there have been some snags in the plan, according to Reuters.
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Israel said on Thursday it was preparing for the reopening of Gaza's Rafah crossing with Egypt to let Palestinians in and out, but set no date as it traded blame with Hamas over violations of a U.S.-mediated ceasefire.
A row over the return of bodies of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza retains the potential to upend the truce along with other major planks of the plan yet to be resolved, including disarmament of militants and Gaza's future governance.
Government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian told reporters on Thursday that Israel remained committed to the agreement and continued to uphold its obligations, demanding Hamas return the bodies of the 19 deceased hostages it had not handed over.
The Islamist faction has handed over 10 bodies but Israel said one of them was not that of a hostage. The militant group has said that it has handed over all bodies it could recover.
The armed wing of Hamas said the handover of more bodies in Gaza, which was reduced to vast tracts of rubble by the war, would require the admission of heavy machinery and excavating equipment into the Israel-blockaded Palestinian enclave.
On Thursday, a senior Hamas official accused Israel of flouting the ceasefire by having killed at least 24 people in shootings since Friday, and said a list of such violations was handed over to mediators.
"The occupying state is working day and night to undermine the agreement through its violations on the ground," he said.
Israel claims Hamas fighters and civilians have crossed or approached the yellow line, which prompted the scattered shootings that occurred after the agreement went into effect.
Hamas has characterized these incidents as examples that Israel is not holding to the truce. It has provided mediators with a list of Israeli shootings. The terrorist group also claims Israel is restricting the flow of humanitarian aid below the agreed-upon levels.
Meanwhile, Hamas has faced criticism after footage emerged showing its operatives executing and assaulting civilians.
There is no one more radicalized then the people of Gaza. pic.twitter.com/Ob7Jz1RBVR
— Insurrection Barbie (@DefiyantlyFree) October 14, 2025
🔴
— Voice From The East (@EasternVoices) October 16, 2025
Hamas “Arrow Unit” goes around Gaza, breaking legs of civilians with metal tubes.
You wanted Israel out, this is how it looks like when Hamas is being left alone. pic.twitter.com/c7zEIbEuMj
The ceasefire remains intact at the moment. But the true test will come when it is time for Hamas to disarm while relinquishing power over the Gaza Strip. This has been a key sticking point for the terrorist group.
However, with international pressure, it is possible that Hamas’ leadership will realize their time is over and that there is no point in continuing to resist.
