Gaza Ceasefire Begins: Hostage Exchange Underway as Thousands Return to Devastated Northern Homes

A tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect on October 10, 2025, as part of an initial step to a broader peace treaty intended to end two years of destructive conflict in Gaza. The agreement, hashed out through indirect negotiations, is a 72-hour ceasefire during which Hamas would transfer all remaining Israeli hostages. As part of the deal, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian detainees and allow a flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, where famine and destruction have reduced millions to poverty.

The peace has witnessed large-scale return of Palestinians who were displaced from Gaza to northern Gaza. Families are returning through debris to discover their residences—or what remains of them—following days of relentless shelling. And through all the destruction, the return is a tenuous hope for safety.

The deal also contains clauses regarding the release of prominent Palestinian detainees, which is still pending negotiation. While there are 48 hostages who are still believed to be in Gaza, there are just 20 confirmed to be alive. The initial group of the hostages will be released by Monday.

The ceasefire follows a deadly two-year conflict that has claimed over 67,000 lives and radically reshaped Middle Eastern geopolitics. While the ceasefire is seen as a diplomatic triumph, there are concerns over its durability and Gaza's future control.

As relief convoys arrive and families sift through rubble, the world waits to see if this ceasefire sticks—and if it can result in a lasting peace.