Why the Ceasefire in Gaza Is Only the First Move
Hope Returned. But for How Long?
For nearly two years, families on both sides of the conflict lived in uncertainty.
In Israel, they gathered in Hostage Square holding up photos, lighting candles, and sharing stories of loved ones taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
In Gaza, parents searched the rubble for children who never came home, mourning quietly while airstrikes pounded the ground around them.
There was no script for their pain. No roadmap for their grief.
And for 730 days, they waited. Some held out hope. Others braced for the worst.
Then, the news broke.
Twenty hostages were alive. And they were coming home.
Across Tel Aviv, the celebrations were instant.
In Gaza, prisoners returned to their families as crowds filled the streets.
But beneath every cheer was a shared exhaustion...the kind that comes from years of fear, loss, and uncertainty.
This wasn’t just about returning captives. It marked the end of a war. And the beginning of something far more difficult to maintain: peace.
What Just Happened: A Deal That Shook the Region
On October 10, 2025, Israel and Hamas agreed to stop fighting.
The ceasefire was brokered by the United States. It led to the release of 20 living hostages. Four more were returned in coffins.
In exchange, Israel released 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli troops pulled back from urban centers. Gaza’s skies fell quiet. Aid trucks moved freely for the first time in nearly two years.
The most surprising development? Hamas gave up governing Gaza. After 16 years of control, they stepped aside for an interim authority.
President Donald Trump called it "the dawn of a new Middle East."
Time will tell if that holds true.
Why This Ceasefire Matters
This wasn’t a pause. It was a break in the pattern.
With Hamas no longer in charge, Gaza now has a shot at rebuilding with outside help. There’s a narrow chance to replace conflict with governance.
But that doesn’t make peace inevitable. It makes it a race.
Right now, Gaza is without a functioning government.
Its power grid is down. Water is scarce. Infrastructure is almost non-existent.
There’s no clear plan for what happens next.
What Comes Next Will Decide Everything
Here’s what most people aren’t hearing:
Gaza is unstable. In the absence of formal authority, Hamas fighters have reappeared under the claim of maintaining order. They are executing suspected collaborators in public. Other militant factions are fighting for control. It’s already turning violent.
The humanitarian crisis is severe. Food, water, and medical care are in short supply. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble. Children are drinking from puddles. Aid is arriving, but far too slowly. The longer this lasts, the more likely it is that desperation turns to violence.
Hostile actors are watching. Iran, Hezbollah, and others are waiting for this truce to fall apart. They understand something most people don’t want to admit. If hope spreads, their influence weakens.
This moment is not about celebration. It’s about urgency.
The Real Battle Starts Now
The war ended with reunions that once seemed impossible.
But peace will only last if it is defended. And not just with words.
The U.S. is leading the rebuilding talks.
It is pressuring Arab nations to help fund the estimated $70 billion needed to rebuild Gaza.
It is also pushing for a neutral governing body to replace Hamas.
But all of this takes attention, resources, and sustained political will.
If the U.S. loses focus, the ceasefire will collapse.
If the world turns away, the violence will come back.
And next time, there may be no hostages left to bring home.
This is the choice:
Ignore it and hope someone else handles it.
Or stay engaged and help carry this forward.
Because while peace is fragile, it still counts.
And if we act faster than the forces hoping to exploit the chaos, then we may just avoid another war.
In that future, it won’t be grief that defines this moment.
It will be what came after, when people refused to look away and chose to build something better.
Stay Sharp,
Gideon Ashwood