Gaza Ceasefire Tensions Rise as Body Exchanges Stall

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Above: Palestinians released from Israeli prisons arrive in southern Gaza, Oct. 13, 2025. Image copyright: AHMED YOUNIS/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-Palestine narrative

It is unsurprising that Israel uses threats of military escalation to maintain dominance, while postwar governance lags. The partial return of hostages is a cynical gesture before the world, while reports of torture of those Palestinian bodies reveal the brutality behind the optics. Israel’s media blackout, sustaining a 741-day ban on independent press, confirms it wants the world to see only what it allows.

Informed Comment Al Jazeera

Pro-Israel narrative

Israel faces a ruthless adversary in Hamas, which routinely breaches ceasefires, hides fighters among civilians, and refuses full accountability in hostage exchanges. The fact that Hamas has only returned nine bodies — and misidentified one — shows contempt for any diplomacy. And Israel's tight control over Gaza access is a legitimate security measure to prevent propaganda and infiltration via the media.

Timesofisrael FDD

Pro-Trump narrative

President Trump's bold ultimatum projects decisive leadership needed when diplomacy stalls. His 20-point Gaza plan and push for an international stabilization force show strategic vision rather than passivity. Trump's mediation in the hostage deal underlines that he's not only a bystander but a savvy, active broker.

The National

DNI on X

Anti-Trump narrative

Trump's hawkish rhetoric has little grounding in actionable policy. Fact-checkers already flagged exaggerations in his Middle East claims. The "20-point plan" risks becoming a Public Relations shell as governance and reconstruction languish. His interventions may prolong cycles of violence rather than deliver lasting peace.

Foreign Policy