Gaza Ceasefire Deal: Celebrations Erupt Amid Ongoing Israeli Attacks
Early on Thursday, October 9, 2025, residents across the Gaza Strip poured into the streets to celebrate the announcement of a phased ceasefire agreement intended to halt the Israeli genocide and secure the release of captives, based on a plan by US President Donald Trump.
Celebrations were reported across the Strip, including in Gaza City, Khan Yunis, and Deir al-Balah.
Hamas, which submitted its lists of Palestinian prisoners to mediators, hailed the agreement as a “national achievement,” stressing that Israel failed to achieve its objectives through “genocide and starvation.”
Implementation and Political Context
The agreement triggered immediate preparations for its execution. The release of all living Israeli captives and the bodies of the deceased is anticipated on Sunday or Monday. A White House official indicated the full Israeli withdrawal to the separation line in Gaza would take less than 24 hours.
The Israeli occupation army confirmed that combat teams in Gaza were ordered to prepare for redeployment, suggesting either a full withdrawal or repositioning to rear lines, and the Chief of Staff instructed all forces to prepare for the operation to retrieve the captives.
Politically, President Trump reportedly provided guarantees not to allow Israel to resume the war after the captives are recovered. While Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin admitted the agreement includes “painful concessions,” he vowed Israel would work to prevent Hamas from reacquiring weapons.
Global Calls for Full Commitment
The international community urged a permanent end to the conflict and immediate humanitarian action.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on all parties to fully commit to the deal, ensure the dignified release of all detainees, a permanent ceasefire, and the immediate, unimpeded entry of humanitarian and essential commercial supplies.
This sentiment was echoed by leaders from the UK, Australia, and Canada, who demanded the agreement’s swift implementation and the immediate lifting of all restrictions on aid to Gaza. Furthermore, Amnesty International stressed the ceasefire must be a step toward ending the illegal Israeli occupation and the genocide, warning a temporary cessation is insufficient.
Ongoing Israeli Military Action
Despite the announced deal and the ongoing celebrations, Israeli military operations, including intense airstrikes and artillery shelling, continued into Thursday morning in various parts of the Strip.
In Gaza City, strikes hit the western areas, including a house in the Al-Shati refugee camp and the Al-Hawa neighborhood. Intense artillery fire also targeted the eastern neighborhoods of Shuja’iyya, Al-Tuffah, and Al-Daraj. Additionally,
Israeli forces continued to detonate explosive armored vehicles between homes in the Al-Sabra neighborhood, and airstrikes and shelling persisted in the central area of Khan Yunis.
An Israeli army spokesperson warned that forces still surround Gaza City and the area north of the Gaza Valley remains a dangerous combat zone, urging residents to refrain from moving north.
The Government Media Office in Gaza reinforced this, warning residents to exercise extreme caution and avoid moving on Al-Rashid and Salah al-Din streets until new instructions are issued.
Humanitarian Crisis
The latest Israeli military operation has also displaced hundreds of thousands, though an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 Palestinians are believed to remain in Gaza City.
The two-year genocide has resulted in an official toll of 67,183 martyrs and 169,841 injured since October 7, 2023.
Furthermore, a war of starvation has resulted in hundreds of deaths, with the Government Media Office in Gaza reporting that 8 individuals were killed by Israeli fire in the last 24 hours while attempting to obtain aid.
