US President Donald Trump addressed the Israeli Knesset on Monday, declaring a "historic dawn of a new Middle East" following a ceasefire in Gaza, a statement that resonates with cautious hope among Palestinians after two years of a devastating war that has left much of their territory in ruins . The ceasefire, which took effect on October 10, 2025, has halted the bombing and allowed the first massive return of displaced Palestinians to their homes, where they are confronting near-total destruction .
While the diplomatic ceremony unfolded, the situation on the ground in Gaza presented a stark contrast. For Palestinians like Fatima Salem, 38, who returned to her neighborhood in Gaza City, the joy of survival is mixed with the pain of immense loss. "My eyes kept searching for landmarks I had lost—nothing looked the same, even the neighbours' houses were gone," she said, describing the widespread devastation . The human cost of the conflict has been catastrophic, with over 67,000 Palestinians killed, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, a figure the United Nations considers credible . A joint investigation by the Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call, based on a classified Israeli military database, indicated that as many as 83% of the Palestinians killed were civilians .
The ceasefire agreement, based on a 20-point plan unveiled by President Trump in late September, has led to the release of the final 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas . In exchange, Israel released 1,968 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, a move that was met with celebration in the West Bank city of Ramallah . However, the agreement remains fragile, with major issues like the future disarmament of Hamas and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza still unresolved . Hamas has firmly stated that disarmament is "out of the question," setting the stage for difficult future negotiations .
Hamas has responded to the developments with cautious vigilance. A spokesman for the group, Hazem Qassem, stated they "welcome the statement by US President Trump, who clearly affirmed the end of Israel's war on the Gaza Strip" . However, he urgently called on all mediators and international parties to "continue monitoring Israel's conduct and to ensure it does not resume its aggression against our people in Gaza" . This highlights the profound distrust and the precarious nature of the current calm.
Following his speech in Israel, President Trump traveled to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, to co-host an international summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi . The summit, attended by more than 20 world leaders, aimed to secure support for the ceasefire and the monumental task of rebuilding Gaza . President Trump announced that "numerous countries of great wealth" had come forward to pledge money for reconstruction, though he did not name them . Estimates for rebuilding the shattered territory have reached at least $30 billion, with the World Bank and a separate Egyptian plan suggesting costs could be as high as $53 billion .
The path forward is fraught with challenges. While the US, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey signed a declaration as guarantors of the deal, the absence of both Israeli and Hamas representatives from the summit underscored the deep divisions that remain . European diplomats have privately warned that plans for an international stabilisation force and a Palestinian civilian police force need to be accelerated for the peace to hold . For the Palestinians, after enduring what a UN report verified as a disproportionate impact on women and children, the ceasefire offers a fragile chance to recover from a war that has left indelible scars on their population and land .