No, the Gaza War Was Not “Declared Over.” Hamas Backed a First‑Phase Deal After a Trump‑Linked Push—But Israel Still Had to Approve It

Short answer: Not yet. Hamas said it agreed to a deal “to end the war,” crediting a U.S.-led push tied to Donald Trump—but the plan was only the first phase, contingent on Israeli approval and implementation. Fighting had not fully stopped.

Here’s what the bold headline misses—and why the fine print matters.

The Headline vs. The Fine Print

The original article repeats a dramatic claim: after mediation by Trump, Hamas declared the Gaza war “over.” That captures a striking piece of the story—but overshoots the reality on the ground.

What we verified:

• Hamas statement: Hamas announced it had agreed to a deal “to end the war on Gaza,” and called on the U.S. and other guarantors to ensure Israel implements it. That supports the core of the headline. Source: Reuters (Oct 8) reuters.com
• U.S./Trump role: Reporting ties the breakthrough to a U.S.-led plan personally announced by President Donald Trump. But it wasn’t only Washington: Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey were key players in the indirect talks. Source: Washington Post washingtonpost.com
• Status of the war: The deal described was a first phase toward ending the conflict. Israel’s cabinet still needed to vote, and the IDF told forces to remain ready; limited strikes continued. Sources: Washington Post; Time washingtonpost.com, time.com

What the headline gets wrong:

• Finality. Saying the war “is over” implies a switch was flipped. In reality, this was more like a dimmer: step one needed step two. The Israeli cabinet’s approval and on‑the‑ground actions were still ahead. Even supportive Israeli statements framed it as a “step toward” ending the war—not the end itself. washingtonpost.com

The Most Important Correction

• Key correction: Hamas did not single‑handedly end the war on Oct 8–9. It agreed to a phase‑one plan toward ending the war, pending Israeli approval and practical implementation. Until those steps happened, the war was not over. reuters.com, washingtonpost.com

The Story Behind the Claim

The announcement came with high drama: Trump touting a new path, Hamas saying it accepted a deal “to end the war,” and diplomatic shuttles involving Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. But on the ground, the IDF kept a posture of readiness and carried out limited strikes. Israeli leaders have long said any truce would be conditional—more of a trial period than a permanent peace. That tension—big promises vs. cautious reality—defined the days after the announcement. bbc.com, time.com

Claims That Need More Evidence

Two specific details circulating around the headline are not backed by primary reporting at this stage:

• Rafah “in both directions”: Reporting pointed to Rafah reopening mainly for medical evacuations and controlled humanitarian movement—a continuation of prior frameworks. A full “both directions” opening was talked about but not confirmed as an immediate term of this new phase. Treat this as unverified. Source: Al Jazeera (context on earlier reopening) aljazeera.com
• Release of “all” Palestinian women and children: Previous exchanges freed many, but not all. For the October step, major wires did not confirm a blanket release of “all women and children,” sometimes specifying large numbers or those from Gaza. Treat “all” as unsupported. Sources: Addameer (context), wires monitoring addameer.org

What “First Phase” Actually Means

Think of it like a chain of dominos: one has to fall before the next can move. Reports described:

• A phased Israeli pullback on a defined timeline (e.g., 24 hours), followed by
• A window (e.g., 72 hours) for hostage releases and reciprocal steps,
• With cabinet approval and third‑party guarantees still required. Source: Washington Post washingtonpost.com

Until those dominos actually fell—and were verified—declaring the war “ended” was premature.

What We Know vs. What We Don’t

What’s solid:

• Hamas agreed to a deal it says would “end the war,” pending implementation. reuters.com
• U.S. leadership was central, with Trump front‑and‑center, but Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey were crucial. washingtonpost.com
• Hostilities had not fully ceased immediately after the announcements; the IDF maintained readiness. time.com

What’s uncertain or pending:

• Formal Israeli cabinet approval and the exact sequence of steps on the ground.
• Scope of crossings reopening (Rafah) under this phase.
• Exact prisoner/hostage lists and whether any “all” claims hold up.

Why This Distinction Matters

Calling a war “over” is more than a headline—it changes expectations, behavior, and risk. Israeli leaders have said they reserve the right to resume fighting if terms are breached. That means any “end” is conditional until verified over time, not announced in a single statement. bbc.com

How We Checked

• Primary wires and major outlets for on‑the‑record statements and timelines:
  • Reuters: Hamas statement and framing of the deal reuters.com
  • Washington Post: U.S./Trump role, “first phase,” Israeli approvals washingtonpost.com
  • BBC/Time: Continued strikes and military posture bbc.com, time.com
• Issue‑specific sources to test specific claims:
  • Al Jazeera: Rafah crossing context aljazeera.com
  • Addameer: Detainee data and prior exchanges addameer.org

Bottom Line

• Mostly accurate, but misleadingly framed. Hamas said it agreed to a deal “to end the war” after a U.S./Trump‑led push, but the agreement was a first phase, awaiting Israeli approval and concrete implementation. Some splashy details (Rafah “both directions,” release of “all” women and children) were not confirmed. Until the steps are taken and verified, the war cannot be called over. reuters.com, washingtonpost.com