20 living hostages were released at the same time as hundreds of terrorists sentenced to life imprisonment—who had received millions during their time in prison—were freed. Egypt, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, countries which previously occupied Gaza, are now to play a role in Gaza’s future, while Hamas breaks the agreement to return the bodies of deceased hostages, executes any opposition, and refuses to relinquish power.
On October 13, 2025, the terrorist group Hamas released the last 20 living hostages after more than two years in captivity. On the same day, a “peace agreement” was signed in Sharm el-Sheikh with around thirty countries in attendance — including Turkey, France, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Qatar — and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset.
The background to this development was that Trump and the White House had presented a plan in early October to end the war in Gaza:“Gaza will be a de-radicalized, terror-free zone that poses no threat to its neighbors,”
the plan began, stipulating that Hamas and other factions would have no role in Gaza’s leadership, directly, indirectly, or in any other form.
“All military, terror-oriented, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt,”
the agreement stated.
Israeli forces withdrew to prepare for the release of the hostages, and a few days after Israel accepted the agreement, all living hostages were handed over in exchange for 250 prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7, 2023.
The Palestinian Authority has paid $70 million to the terrorists released under the hostage deal, according to Palestinian Media Watch (PMW). 160 of the 250 freed terrorists who were serving at least one life sentence for murder are now millionaires thanks to the PA’s “Pay for Slay” program. Together, they have received at least 229.5 million shekels ($70 million), according to PMW. The remaining 90 have also received significant sums.
Hamas refuses to give up
A week after the Gaza peace plan came into force, Hamas had handed over the remains of 13 of the deceased hostages, while at least 15 bodies were still missing. One of the bodies released to Israel did not belong to a hostage.
The U.S. plan states that those who wish to remain in Gaza may do so, and that an international stabilization force will be deployed there. This force will train and support carefully checked Palestinian police forces in Gaza. The peace plan is signed in pursuit of Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which is recognized by the U.S. as “the aspiration of the Palestinian people.”
The terrorist group Hamas rejects the U.S. proposal that it should have no role in Gaza’s future, arguing instead that Gaza’s future “will be discussed through a comprehensive Palestinian national framework, in which Hamas will participate.” Hamas has simultaneously executed opposition Palestinians who in different ways has attempted to resist.
Turkey has also become a key player in Gaza’s future—with Trump’s support. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan defends Hamas, has compared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Hitler, and has accused Israel of genocide, while continuing to deny the 1915 genocide in the Ottoman Empire.
Onur Uraz, a Turkish researcher at the state university in Ankara who claims that the 1915 genocide of 1.5 million people was a Western fabrication, told TIME Magazine in September that Israel had committed genocide.
Turkey’s role controversial
According to the “peace agreement” signed by Erdoğan in Sharm el-Sheikh, Turkey is to take part in the international task force helping to locate the remains of hostages held in Gaza. Erdoğan had threatened to cancel his attendance and return home if Netanyahu appeared at the summit.
Despite Erdoğan’s open support for the Muslim Brotherhood, Turkey has gained a foothold in Gaza — something Ankara has long sought — even though Israel had opposed Turkish involvement in Gaza’s future. Israel has tried to limit Turkey’s influence in southern Syria, but now Hamas’s legitimacy in Gaza is strengthened as Turkey calls for increased pressure on Israel instead.
“Erdoğan has dreamed of a role in Gaza since October 7,” said Dr. Gallia Lindenstrauss to Ynet News in mid-October. Lindenstrauss, a senior researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), pointed to Turkey’s Ministry of Defense, which stated in mid-October: “Our forces, which are experienced in creating and maintaining peace, are ready for any mission assigned to them.”
According to Lindenstrauss, it will become increasingly difficult to marginalize Hamas as Turkey and Qatar become more involved. “Turkey is siding with Hamas. The idea of Turkish troops in Gaza is deeply concerning — what happens if Israel accidentally attacks them? Tensions are already high enough,” she said.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has, at the time of writing, opposed Turkey’s inclusion in the international stabilization force in Gaza.
Three occupying powers
The fact that Egypt, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, through Tony Blair, are now to be involved in Gaza’s administration means that three former occupying powers are regaining historical influence over the Gaza Strip.
Israel’s Minister for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, condemned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s participation in the peace agreement, highlighting a prayer on March 30, 2025, in which Erdoğan prayed that “Zionist Israel” would be “destroyed and annihilated,” and accused the Turkish leader of constantly trying to undermine the Jewish people’s historical ties to Jerusalem. Chikli described Erdoğan as “a sworn enemy of Israel and the West, a jihadist in a suit,”
and pointed to previous statements by the Turkish leader claiming a special Turkish claim to Jerusalem based on the Ottoman Empire’s former occupation of the area.
On October 1, 2020, Erdoğan told Turkey’s parliament: “Jerusalem is our city…”
