On 18 March 2025, a hostage-ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation in the UK, ended and armed conflict resumed in Gaza.

This briefing provides information on the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) since the ending of the agreement, and the UK and international response. It also details proposals for post-conflict Gaza.

The Commons Library collection Middle East instability in 2023-25 has more on the UK and international response to the conflict, including UK and France statements on recognising a Palestinian state, UK aid, as well as the conflicts in the Red Sea, Lebanon and between Israel and Iran. It also sets out activity at the UN Security Council, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), International Criminal Court (ICC) and the position of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

End of the January 2025 agreement

On 18 January 2025, a three-stage agreement between Israel and Hamas came into effect, modelled on a UN Security Council resolution passed in May 2024. Stage one was to last 42 days and allow the release of some hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and for aid to enter Gaza. Negotiations on moving to stage two did not occur until after stage one was planned to expire but fighting did not resume until 18 March.

On 18 March 2025, Israel announced the renewal of military action against Hamas, saying Hamas had refused to accept an extension of stage one of the January agreement. Israel had stopped all aid entering Gaza on 2 March (see below for the humanitarian situation). Israel says that talks on an agreement will now take place “only under fire” and that it would “seize large areas that will be added to the security zones of the State of Israel” during operations. Talks regarding an agreement have continued.

On 18 May 2025, Israel launched an expanded offensive in Gaza. This followed reports of a plan to “capture” land in Gaza, to “move” Palestinian civilians to “protect” them, and for non-UN groups to deliver aid into Gaza. In August, Israel announced it would be preparing for “taking control of Gaza City”. This followed the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, statement that Israel “intends to” take control of all of Gaza to assure Israeli security and remove Hamas. Mr Netanyahu said that Israel does not intend to hold or govern Gaza but rather hand it to “Arab forces” (see below for post-conflict plans).

There is also ongoing violence in the occupied West Bank and Israeli military operations targeting Hamas and other groups. The Houthis have renewed their attacks on Israel and shipping in the Red Sea since March.

What is the humanitarian situation?

Citing Israeli authorities and the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) says that since 7 October 2023 over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been reported killed in Israel and around 5,400 injured. At least 62,122 Palestinians have been reported killed and 156,758 injured (as of 20 August 2025). In the West Bank, Israeli military operations are estimated to have displaced around 40,000 people.

Citing Hamas’ refusal to extend stage one of the 2025 agreement, on 2 March Israel stopped all aid into Gaza and, from 9 March, Israel cut off all of Gaza’s electricity supply. UNOCHA warned essential supplies were running low and of aid worker deaths. Israeli legislation banning engagement with UNRWA has created challenges in coordinating aid delivery in the OPTs.

On 14 March, G7 foreign ministers “reaffirmed their support for the resumption of unhindered humanitarian aid”. In the same month, the governments of France, Germany and the UK said that Israel risked breaching international humanitarian law by stopping aid.

On 18 May, Israel announced that “a basic quantity of food” would be allowed to enter Gaza, to “make certain that no starvation crisis develops”. This coincided with its expanded military operation.

However, UN agencies continue to report insufficient aid distribution in Gaza. In July 2025, UNOCHA described several ongoing challenges to aid delivery, including threats to aid workers, a breakdown in law and order, regular denials and delays by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) for coordination of aid movements, poor supply lines, and limitations of humanitarian partners able to deliver and dispatch aid to Gaza.

In August 2025, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase (IPC) said that “famine, with reasonable evidence, is confirmed in Gaza governorate” and that the threshold would be crossed in a further two governorates “in the coming weeks”. Gaza has five governorates—the IPC lacked sufficient data for the fourth (north Gaza) and considers the fifth, Rafah, to be “largely depopulated”. The IPC said that the “famine is entirely man-made” and “can be […] reversed”.

This determination followed IPC analysis in July that had warned “a “worst case scenario of famine” was “unfolding” in Gaza. Earlier in August, the UK, alongside 25 countries, had said that “famine is unfolding before our eyes” in Gaza and a “flood of aid” was needed. Following the IPC confirmation, the UK Government said the famine was the result of the “Israeli government’s refusal to allow [in] sufficient aid” and said Israel must “act immediately”. Together with all members of the 15-strong UN Security Council, save for the United States, it backed the IPC findings and its methodology.

Israel has been critical of past IPC reports and in August its Foreign Ministry said “there is no famine in Gaza” and that the IPC “ignored its own criteria just to produce false accusations against Israel”. The “reasonable evidence” determination (PDF) reached by the IPC in August means that two of its three thresholds for starvation, acute malnutrition and mortality were judged to have been reached and the third is “likely”. The IPC judges its evidence base for the determination as “medium” (the mid-tier of its three-tier scheme).

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also accused Hamas of “deliberately starving” both hostages and Palestinians in Gaza and says UN aid efforts are insufficient. In July, President Trump said there is “real starvation” in Gaza, and the US would be supporting the establishment of further food distribution centres. Israel then announced 10-hour humanitarian pauses in fighting. In August, the US criticised the IPC’s methodology and credibility.

The UN, UK Government and others have also been critical of the US/Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) as an alternative to UN-led distribution. The UK and UNOCHA report many hundreds of Palestinians have been killed trying to access one of the four GHF food distribution sites in Gaza (there are plans to expand this to 16). The UK’s International Development Minister, Baroness Chapman, says the GHF has “failed”. The UN-led system had around 400 sites during the January-March ceasefire.

What has been the UK, US and EU response?

The UK Government backed the January 2025 agreement and said the agreement should be implemented in full. During the aid pause of March to May 2025, the government expressed concern that Israel was “at risk” of breaching international law in its blocking of aid. The government has reiterated that it is opposed to any forced displacement of Palestinians, loss of territory within the Gaza Strip, or annexation by Israel.

The UK Government did not back the resumption of Israeli military action in March or its expansion in May or August. On 20 May, the government announced it would pause talks on a free trade agreement with Israel and review the 2023 road map on UK-Israel relations (this includes objectives on economic, social and defence cooperation). UK cooperation against Iran will be unaffected. In June and July, the government said it was prepared to take further action, including targeted sanctions, if there are no changes in Israeli action. It has called for Hamas and Israel to return to talks.

In May, the UK also announced a new round of sanctions against organisations and individuals involved in settler violence in the West Bank. This is the fourth series of sanctions announced since October 2023.

In June, the UK, together with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, announced an asset freeze and travel ban against Israeli ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich. The UK said the two were “sanctioned for their repeated incitement of violence against Palestinian civilians”. The Israeli Foreign Minister said the UK action was “unacceptable”. The US “condemn[ed]” the decision on sanctions.

These actions follow a joint statement issued by the governments of France, Canada and the UK on 19 May which said that they were prepared to take “further concrete action” in response to a “wholly disproportionate” Israeli military action and the lack of aid entering Gaza since March 2025.

In May 2025 European Union leaders announced that they would review the EU-Israel trade agreement, and said more aid must enter Gaza immediately. However, while some proposals to amend EU-Israel engagement have been discussed, no changes in EU policy has been announced. In August, French President, Emmanuel Macron, described the expanded IDF operations as a “drift towards a never-ending war” and said a UN-mandated international commission should be established to stabilise Gaza (also an outcome of the July 2025 two-state solution conference. It will need the support of the UN Security Council). In August, Germany also announced an embargo on military equipment that could be used by Israel in Gaza. Germany is the second-largest exporter of arms to Israel, behind the US.

In the US, the Trump adminstration has said Hamas “cannot continue to exist” and that “we stand with Israel and their efforts to defend themselves”. It expects all parties to comply with international humanitarian law. It told the UN Security Council in March that “Hamas bears full responsibility for […] the resumption of hostilities” and the hostages must be released immediately.

The United States has backed the GHF and has called on the UN and others to work with the GHF and Israel to deliver aid. The US said the decision of Israel to expand its operations in August followed “Hamas’ intransigence” in talks and that “Israel has a right to decide what is necessary for its security”.

West Bank E1 settlement plan, August 2025

In August 2025, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that Israel would approve the “E1” settlement plan in the occupied West Bank. The plan is for around 3,000 homes to be built to the east of occupied East Jerusalem. The UK Government has condemed the decision and in a joint statement said that the plan“would divide a Palestinian state in two”, represent a “breach of international law” and “critically undermine the two-state solution”. The UK Government also summoned the Israeli ambassador.

Minister Smotrich said that the approval “buries the idea of a Palestinian state”. In July, the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) had passed a non-binding motion calling for the West Bank to be annexed. Israel has argued the West Bank is “disputed”, not “occupied” territory and its future remains subject to negotiation. US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said decisions over whether to proceed with the E1 plan are a matter for Israel.

Statements on recognising a Palestinian state

In July 2025 the French, Canadian, and UK Governments announced plans to recognise a Palestinian state at the next UN General Assembly meeting in September, as a means of furthering the Israeli-Palestinian peace process (the UK and Canadian announcements include some conditions). Australia later said it would take the same step. More than 140 countries currently recognise a Palestinian State. The three will be the first G7 states to do so.  Canada cited the proposed E1 plan (see above) as one reason for its action.

The United States has argued the decisions to recognise a Palestinian state have “encouraged” Hamas not to participate in ceasefire-hostage talks. Israel argues recognition “rewards terror”.

The separate Commons Library research briefing, UK, Canada, France statements on recognising a Palestinian state 2025, has further information on the announcements, their conditions, and the Israeli, Palestinian and international reaction.

What has been the response at the UN?

The UN Secretary-General has called for a return to the January 2025 agreement, a resumption of humanitarian aid, and the unconditional and immediate release of hostages. In August, in response to the IPC report, the UN’s relief coordinator, Tom Fletcher, said that there should be a “ceasefire [and] open[ing] [of] the crossings, north and south [into Gaza], all of them”. He opposes the role of the GHF.

On 4 June 2025, the US vetoed a UN Security Council Resolution demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the release of hostages. All other council members, including the UK, voted in favour of the resolution. No further resolutions have been brought to the Council.

Proposals for post-conflict Gaza in 2025

Stage two of the January 2025 hostage-ceasefire agreement had intended for the complete withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza. Stage 3 had called for the reconstruction of Gaza.

In August 2025, the Israeli Security Cabinet agreed five principles for concluding the conflict: 1) the disarming of Hamas 2) the return of all hostages 3) the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip 4) Israeli security control of the Strip and 5) the establishment of an alternative administration in Gaza that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority. Previously, Prime Minister Netanyahu had said that the implementation of President Trump’s plan for Gaza (see below) was a condition for ending the conflict.

Israel, the UK and the United States are among those that say Hamas can no longer govern Gaza. Israel also opposes a role for the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA. In 2025, some Hamas officials have said they are willing to step down from governing Gaza, but have said the group will not disarm until a Palestinian state is established.

In March 2025, the Arab League agreed a plan for Gaza, over three stages. The first would last six months and focus on reconstruction. Gaza would be run by a temporary technocratic committee (excluding Hamas and the Palestinian Authority). In May, they also said an international fund should be established. Germany, France, Italy and the UK welcomed the plan. In July 2025, the Arab League also called on Hamas to disarm.

The Arab League’s plan is seen as a counter to the statements by President Trump for Palestinians to leave Gaza, either temporarily or permanently, to enable US-led reconstruction. No US troops or funding would be used. In March, President Trump also said that “nobody’s expelling any Palestinians”.

The UN Secretary-General said that “it is vital to stay true to the bedrock of international law. It is essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing”. Jordan and Egypt, likely recipients for any refugees, have strongly criticised the President’s statement, as has the Arab League and Palestinian Authority. The UK Government says that there must be no forced displacement from Gaza and Palestinians have the right to return to their homes.

Israel and the US rejected the Arab League plan, though a later US statement said the plan was a “good faith first step”. The Israeli Government says the US plan “should be encouraged”, and in March established an office to prepare and enable “voluntary departure [of Palestinians] to third countries.

Source: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10235/