World News for Students of English

14-10-2025 07:00

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has started in Gaza, allowing many Palestinians to return to their destroyed homes after months of fighting.

Around 200,000 people are walking back through ruined towns while Israeli forces still hold half of the territory.

Under the agreement, Hamas must release 20 Israeli hostages and the bodies of 28 others, while Israel will free 250 Palestinian prisoners and more than 1,700 detainees from Gaza. Both sides have 72 hours to complete these steps. This ceasefire is only the first stage of a wider plan that includes rebuilding Gaza and deciding who will govern it. Many details remain unclear, and the future of the region depends on how the sides follow the terms.

Israeli families of former hostages expressed relief and hope for peace, though international observers warn that major challenges remain before lasting stability can be achieved.

Difficult words: hostage (a person kept by someone to make others do what they want), detainee (someone kept in prison), stability (a state of peace without a sudden change).

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