Not Peace, But a Start: Ceasefire Offers Glimmer of Hope

Palestinians returning to Gaza City. (Picture: Dawoud Abo Alkas - Anadolu Agency)

Having experienced months of escalating conflict and international pressure, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a new ceasefire deal - one that, at least for now, is holding. 

The agreement, announced on Wednesday, is being cautiously embraced by leaders around the world as a much-needed pause in the violence that has devastated Gaza and left Israel in a prolonged state of tension. 

Under the deal, Israel will begin to withdraw troops from key areas of the Gaza Strip, while Hamas will release 48 Israeli hostages in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli officials have been quick to clarify that this is not a full withdrawal, but rather a "repositioning" of forces. Much of northern and central Gaza remains under Israeli control, and military surveillance continues over the area. 

Still, it's a first step toward de-escalation in months, and though the political landscape is far from settled, there is, for once, something resembling cautious optimism.

The United States has taken a leading role in trying to ensure the ceasefire doesn’t unravel like so many before it. In a move underscoring the severity of the situation, about 200 U.S. troops have been deployed to Israel. No, they won’t be entering Gaza, as that’s off-limits, but they will be operating from a civil-military coordination centre run by the U.S. Central Command. 

Their job? Facilitate humanitarian aid, hold open communication with local partners, and try to help both sides keep the peace - or at least stay out of each other’s way.

This is part of a broader U.S. strategy to create what’s being dubbed an “International Stabilization Force,” involving regional players such as Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE. The big aim is to create breathing room for long-term political solutions, while also ensuring that desperately needed humanitarian aid, such as food, water, fuel, and medical supplies, can safely reach civilians inside Gaza. 

It’s not glamorous work, but it’s critical.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the UK has also stepped up its diplomatic efforts. Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly welcomed the ceasefire agreement in a PM statement on the Gaza peace deal (9 October 2025), praising the role of Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey in helping broker the deal. He urged both Israel and Hamas to honour their commitments and called for immediate and unhindered access for humanitarian organisations. 

Foreign Secretary David Lammy added that “humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached new depths” and warned that further action, including potential sanctions, could be on the table if the ceasefire collapses or aid remains restricted.

Behind the scenes, British diplomats have been pushing for increased humanitarian corridors and proposing a framework for long-term governance in Gaza that could, eventually, involve a neutral international body. Nothing concrete has emerged from those talks yet, but the intent is clear: London wants to be part of the solution, not just a spectator.

Of course, ceasefires in this region have a notoriously short shelf life. But this one, bolstered by international coordination and a flurry of high-level diplomacy, has a better shot than most. That doesn’t mean anyone’s popping champagne corks just yet, but a moment of calm, however fleeting, is being welcomed on all sides.

And while the challenges ahead are daunting - from rebuilding shattered infrastructure to navigating the thorny question of Hamas’s future role (or lack thereof) in Gaza - for now, at least, there's space to breathe. A ceasefire might not be peace, but it’s a start. And in a year full of grim headlines, that’s something worth holding on to.