Gaza ceasefire (January 2025)
Parties: Israel, Hamas
Mediators: Qatar, Egypt, United States
A Qatar- and Egypt-brokered, U.S.-backed three-phase ceasefire began January 19, 2025, with a six-week first phase involving hostage-for-prisoner exchanges. Israel resumed military operations in Gaza in mid-March 2025 after the parties failed to agree on transitioning to phase two.
After more than 15 months of war in Gaza, a three-phase ceasefire announced January 15, 2025 took effect on January 19. It was brokered by Qatar and Egypt with U.S. backing.
The first phase was a six-week (42-day) truce: Hamas would release 33 Israeli captives (women, children, men over 50), and Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and partially withdraw from Gaza. During this phase Israel recovered 25 living hostages and the bodies of 8 others; humanitarian aid flowed and displaced Palestinians returned to ruined homes.
The second phase was supposed to deliver the release of all remaining hostages, a full Israeli withdrawal, and a move toward a permanent ceasefire. But talks on phase two barely began before phase one ended on March 1, 2025. Hamas rejected an Israeli proposal to extend phase one, insisting on moving to phase two as agreed; Israel refused to commit in writing to not resuming hostilities.
In mid-March 2025 (around March 18), Israel resumed military operations in Gaza, having temporarily halted aid beforehand. The ceasefire was broken with no successor agreement in place. That is why this entry is tagged violated. Status as of July 2026; verify before relying on this for decisions.
Duration: First phase: 6 weeks (42 days), Jan 19 – Mar 1, 2025; full deal structured in three phases
- Phase 1: 6-week ceasefire; Hamas releases 33 Israeli captives; Israel releases hundreds of Palestinian prisoners
- Phase 1: Israel partially withdraws from Gaza; humanitarian aid flows; displaced Palestinians return
- Phase 2: Release of all remaining hostages; full Israeli withdrawal; move toward permanent ceasefire
- Phase 3: Return of remains; multi-year reconstruction
Only phase 1 was implemented. Phases 2 and 3 never began after the transition collapsed.
Party: Israel
Basis: Attributed by multiple outlets
Multiple outlets attribute the resumption of military operations on ~March 18, 2025 to Israel, after Israel had halted aid and after phase-2 transition talks stalled. Hamas had rejected an Israeli proposal to extend phase one instead of moving to phase two. No adjudicating body (UN/monitoring mechanism) formally attributed the breach; basis is multiple named outlets.
Sources:
Sources:
- January 2025 Gaza war ceasefire — Wikipedia
- Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Ceasefire announcement (Jan 15, 2025)
- Britannica — Israel-Hamas War: Ceasefire and hostage exchange (Jan–Mar 2025)
- Le Monde — Gaza ceasefire details: Three incremental phases
Last updated 2026-07-16