A year of ceasefire in Gaza through the lens of NPR's reporter

One year after U.S. President Donald Trump declared the conflict in Gaza to have ended, the long-term commitments of the Oct. 10, 2025 ceasefire remain largely unfulfilled. Here's an examination of the key elements of the agreement and the status of each: Hostages returned, peace prevails

Deeming the return of hostages a top priority, Hamas released the 20 captives taken during the Oct. 7, 2023 assault, the deadliest day in Israel's history. This pledge to free the hostages was a significant triumph for Israel, whose public had been anxiously awaiting their safe return. A year later, calm has prevailed in Israel, with no rocket attacks originating from Gaza. Exhausted missile stockpiles

The destructive Israeli bombardment had depleted Hamas' missile inventory, rendering the majority of the group's arsenal unusable. The relentless onslaught had damaged or destroyed nearly all buildings in Gaza, bringing an end to the threat posed by the group's firepower. U.S. monitoring efforts ongoing

The U.S. military established a command post in conjunction with foreign allies near the Gaza border to closely monitor the truce. This arrangement aimed to ensure the ceasefire's compliance and maintain stability in the volatile region. No reduction in Israeli hostilities

Despite Israel's decreased attack frequency, it has continued to strike Gaza on a near-daily basis. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of numerous Palestinians, failing to deliver on Israel's promise to withdraw from the territory.