After 15 long months of war marked by destruction, displacement and death, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appears to finally be underway. The conflict, which has left tens of thousands dead and millions displaced, may now take its first steps toward peace.
The violence began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza. Israel’s retaliation—an intense bombing campaign followed by a ground invasion—led to massive devastation in Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 47,000 Palestinians have been killed, more than half of them women and children.
The ceasefire, announced on Jan. 15, 2025, and brokered by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt, aims to bring a permanent end to the fighting while facilitating the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Negotiations leading to the deal were months in the making, and with such a fragile agreement in place, even a small incident could risk its collapse.
The ceasefire is expected to unfold in three stages. The first phase, lasting 42 days, includes a complete ceasefire, the gradual release of 33 hostages by Hamas and the release of approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons. Among those prisoners are individuals held without trial under "administrative detention," a practice condemned by human rights organizations.
During this phase, Israeli forces will begin withdrawing from populated areas in Gaza, allowing displaced Palestinians to return to their neighborhoods. Humanitarian aid will also be provided to Palestinians who have been displaced and affected by the shortage of food and medical resources.
In the second phase, the remaining hostages and prisoners will be exchanged, and a permanent ceasefire will be established. Finally, in the third phase, all remaining bodies of deceased hostages will be returned, and Gaza’s long reconstruction process will begin.
The destruction in Gaza is staggering. The United Nations estimates that 92% of housing units have been damaged, with more than 160,000 homes completely destroyed. Nearly the entire population of Gaza—over 2 million people—has been displaced at least once, and many have been forced to live in temporary shelters. Agriculture, once a key part of Gaza’s economy, has been obliterated. Fields that were once filled with greenhouses have been reduced to barren stretches of sand and rubble.
Even before the conflict, life in Gaza was difficult. Years of Israeli and Egyptian blockades restricted movement and trade, leaving nearly two-thirds of the population in poverty. Now, more than 1.8 million people are experiencing high levels of food insecurity, with thousands on the brink of famine.
Rebuilding Gaza will take years. The UN estimates that fixing the damage caused by the war — which has generated over 50 million tons of rubble — will take around 21 years. The World Bank also estimates the reconstruction process could cost up to $18.5 billion, which is seven times Gaza’s entire GDP in 2022. Without significant changes in the region’s political and economic conditions, the reconstruction effort could take generations.
"We want to think now about our future. Enough death and destruction," said Ayman Abu Radwan, who was forced to leave his home in Gaza City due to the city’s worsening conditions. "We are tired. We have endured the full heat of summer and the frost of winter. Children are dying. Every night, I am woken up by the cries of a two-week-old baby shivering from the cold. I hope that our conditions will improve. We deserve a better life than this."
Photo courtesy of Efe Ersoy on pexels