Israel-Hamas truce holding though Trump doubts it will last

Israel-Hamas ceasefire holds as humanitarian aid flows into Gaza, Trump doubts truce, hostages exchanged, rebuilding begins.

The Israel-Hamas ceasefire entered a third day on Tuesday (January 21, 2025), while U.S. President Donald Trump said he doubted the fragile deal would hold.

Desperately needed humanitarian aid has begun to flow into war-battered Gaza after Israel and Hamas conducted the first exchange of hostages for prisoners agreed under the terms of the ceasefire.

Gazans displaced by more than 15 months of war have been walking through an apocalyptic landscape to return to whatever remains of their homes, while rescuers trawl the rubble for bodies.

“Gaza is like a massive demolition site,” Mr. Trump said as he signed a flurry of executive orders following his inauguration.

Asked whether he believed the two sides would maintain the truce, Mr. Trump said: “That’s not our war; it’s their war. But I’m not confident.”

Mr. Trump had claimed credit for the three-phase ceasefire agreement announced ahead of his return to the White House by Qatar and the U.S., following months of fruitless negotiations under his predecessor Joe Biden.

Mr. Trump has made clear he would support Israel, and in one of his first acts as President, he revoked sanctions on Israeli settlers in the West Bank imposed by the Biden administration over attacks against Palestinians.