As the dust begins to settle on a brutal two-year war, a fragile but historic ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has opened the door for a massive humanitarian response in Gaza. The United Nations is mobilizing one of its largest emergency operations ever—racing to deliver food, medicine, and critical supplies to 2.1 million people teetering on the brink of famine.
UN Ready to Flood Gaza with Life-Saving Aid
“We are ready to go,” declared Tom Fletcher, the UN’s top humanitarian official. With 170,000 metric tons of aid already staged and hundreds of trucks prepared to roll in daily, the UN’s plan aims to reverse a worsening famine and rebuild shattered lives.
Under the newly approved ceasefire—brokered by former President Donald Trump and backed by regional allies—the Rafah border crossing with Egypt will reopen, allowing aid to flow more freely than it has in months.
What the UN’s 60-Day Gaza Aid Plan Includes:
- Food: Daily delivery of high-energy rations to 2.1 million residents, with priority for children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
- Cash assistance: Direct support to 200,000 families for basic food needs.
- Healthcare: Emergency medical teams and mobile clinics to restore Gaza’s collapsed health system.
- Shelter: Temporary housing for the newly displaced and repairs to damaged infrastructure.
- Sanitation: Restoration of clean water, sewage systems, and waste collection.
- Education: Reopening learning spaces for roughly 700,000 children.
Hostages-for-Prisoners Deal Paves the Way
The ceasefire hinges on a dramatic exchange: Hamas will release all remaining hostages—about 20 believed alive—within 72 hours of the truce taking effect. In return, Israel will free 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and another 1,700 detainees held since October 7, 2023.
President Trump announced the hostages could be home as early as Monday or Tuesday, calling it “a very big day… a day of great celebration.”
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct 7, 2023 | Hamas attacks southern Israel, killing ~1,200; takes ~250 hostages |
| Oct 9, 2025 | Israel’s cabinet approves ceasefire deal |
| Oct 10–11, 2025 | Expected hostage release and prisoner exchange |
| Oct 12 onward | UN ramps up aid delivery across Gaza |
Challenges Ahead: Will the Truce Hold?
Despite the optimism, major questions remain. The current deal only covers the first phase of Trump’s 20-point peace plan. Critical issues—like who will govern postwar Gaza, whether Hamas will disarm, and if Israel will fully withdraw—are left for future talks.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar emphasized: “It’s the implementation of the first phase… We don’t have any intention to renew the war.” Yet hardliners like Itamar Ben-Gvir warn they’ll collapse the government if Hamas retains power.
Meanwhile, Iran—long a Hamas backer—has signaled tacit approval, calling the deal a step toward ending what it labels a “genocidal war.”
Voices from the Ground
In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, families wept and danced in cautious celebration. “I still don’t realize that it’s about to happen,” said Itzik Horn, whose son Eitan is among those still captive. “Once I see him, I’ll know it’s over.”
In Gaza, streets filled with cheers—but also uncertainty. Basic services remain destroyed, and hunger persists. Yet for the first time in 700 days, hope flickers.
