It has been a little over a year since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025. The agreement secured hostage releases and halted full-scale fighting after two years of war sparked by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Yet progress toward disarming Hamas and ending its rule remains limited.
Soon after the ceasefire began, Hamas moved to reassert authority in areas outside Israeli control. Its fighters publicly executed members of a rival clan, while its Arrow Unit beat Palestinians accused of crimes.
Hamas also preserved its governmental infrastructure. In February, Reuters reported that the group was collecting taxes, paying public employees and fighters, and placing loyalists in government positions.
Although Hamas announced in July that it had dissolved its government oversight body, it said its ministries and staff would remain, alongside its security and policing role.
As of October 6, the proposed replacement administration had not entered Gaza, and the international stabilization force had not assembled, Reuters reported. Hamas said it had agreed to transfer its weapons into storage under the proposed technocratic government, but Israel insisted on complete disarmament before withdrawing.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Channel 12 reported on October 30, citing Israeli security assessments, that Hamas sought to convert smuggled drones into explosive weapons.
Armed men also attended the October 31 funeral of Arafat al-Areer, whom Arabic-language reporting identified as a member of Hamas’ Qassam Brigades. Their presence illustrates the limits of disarmament efforts.
The ceasefire delivered meaningful gains, including hostage releases. But Hamas’ continued authority shows how far Gaza remains from the promised transition. A year later, the test is whether Hamas relinquishes its weapons and power. Until that happens, announcements of new governing arrangements will offer little reassurance that its rule is ending.
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© Divuach Ne’eman R”A, 2025
