October 17, 2025/Midnight
Erie, PA. — Israel and Hamas have entered into the first stages of a peace agreement, which was brokered by the U.S. Each side of the conflict is releasing hostages, most of which have already returned home, some of which after multiple years were captive. A ceasefire between both militaries is the next step towards peace.
Twenty living hostages were released from Hamas to Israel on Oct. 13. There is also a total of 28 deceased hostages, four of which have been transported to Israel. CBS reports that Israel released almost 2,000 Palestinian hostages that same day. Many of the hostages on both sides of the conflict have been held for over two years since the attacks on Oct. 7, 2023.
The hostage exchange is the first step in a twenty-point plan proposed President Trump. The peace deal was signed in Egypt, where President Trump made a speech stating, “Together we’ve achieved what everybody said was impossible—at long last, we have peace in the Middle East.” The deal calls for peace in the region, and for future conflicts to be resolved through negotiations and diplomatic strategies, rather than warfare or force.
While the ceasefire is currently in effect, ABC reports that the Israel Defense Forces have killed five Palestinians. On social media, the IDF said, “After multiple attempts to distance them, the suspects refused to comply, prompting troops to open fire to remove the threat.”
However, a spokesperson for the Palestine Civil Defense countered this claim, alleging that the IDF violated the ceasefire agreement, as the victims were killed in a safe-zone area.
As of now, the ceasefire is still in effect and plans to move forward with the peace deal are continuing.
This peace deal comes only two weeks after a flotilla set sail for the Gaza Strip. A group of ships and boats, also known as a flotilla, set sail across the Mediterranean to break Israel’s 18-year-long blockade of Gaza.
The flotilla included some high-profile names, such as environmental activist Greta Thunberg, as well as the grandchild of Nelson Mandela, and multiple European lawmakers. These activists carried food, baby formula, and other supplies in an attempt to open a line of resources and aid to the Gaza Strip. The Jerusalem Post reports that over 170 activists were deported from Israel after the flotilla was intercepted.
Thunberg said, “What we aimed to do with the Global Sumud Flotilla was to step up when our governments failed to do their legal obligation.”
However, the Associated Press reports that Israeli military intercepted the flotilla as far as 130 kilometers from the Israeli border. Countries don’t generally have the right to interfere with boats or ships in international waters. However, armed combat or war is an exception to this.
Some of the activists also allege that they were denied clean food, water, and that medications and personal belongings were confiscated by the Israeli military. The Jerusalem Post says a group of Tunisian activists reported to their legal team, “[confirming] to the lawyers that widespread assaults and violence occurred during their transfer from the port to the prison and in the first days of their detention.”
The Israeli Ministry said in a statement, “All the legal rights of the participants in this PR stunt were and will continue to be fully upheld. The lies they are spreading are part of their pre-planned fake news campaign… Don’t believe the fake news they are spreading.”
From the interception of a flotilla to an international peace deal, Palestine and Israel have made and stayed in the headlines the past few weeks. News from the region is rapidly developing, and the global effect of a peace deal in the middle east is already making a worldwide impact.
