IDF destroys 1.5-kilometer Hamas tunnel in northern Gaza

One year after President Donald Trump's Gaza plan was proposed, the situation in the region remains largely unchanged. While the initial phase of the 20-point plan successfully resulted in a ceasefire, the release of hostages and prisoners, and an increase in aid, other objectives such as disarming Hamas, securing an Israeli withdrawal, and rebuilding Gaza have proven difficult to achieve.

Since the October 10, 2025 ceasefire, Israel has continued to launch near-daily attacks, occupying around two-thirds of the Gaza Strip, leaving Palestinians in dire conditions. At least 1,400 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire, many of them women and children, although the figures do not include militant casualties.

Israel claims its attacks are aimed at Hamas, while Hamas denies this. The plan called for Israel to withdraw to a "yellow line" that would leave Israeli troops in control of 53% of Gaza, but the Israeli military has expanded its effective control to around two-thirds of the territory. This has resulted in the uprooting of more Palestinians and a significant increase in the number of people living in tents and damaged buildings.

Despite the scale-up of aid operations following the ceasefire, more than 1.2 million people in Gaza still face acute hunger. The Israeli military agency controlling access to Gaza, COGAT, has not responded to requests for comment on the aid figures. While there have been plans to establish an international stabilization force and a new Palestinian security force to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, these initiatives have yet to be fully implemented.

Palestinians continue to scavenge for materials to repair their shelters, and the Board of Peace has unveiled a $2.45 billion plan for rebuilding Gaza, but this is only a fraction of the estimated $71.4 billion needed over the next decade, according to an EU and UN assessment. Israeli politicians, including Defence Minister Israel Katz, have advocated for the mass emigration of Palestinians from Gaza, a suggestion that faced resistance from Arab states and international criticism.

The upcoming Israeli general election on October 27, 2025, may provide an opportunity for pro- and anti-Netanyahu parties to support Trump's Gaza plan, as polls show their competition remains tight.