Chicago – April 13, 2026
Friday marks six months since the Gaza ceasefire came into effect, a milestone that has largely gone unnoticed amid confusion surrounding a newer and even more fragile ceasefire linked to the Iran conflict.
In the war-torn Palestinian territory, home to around 2 million people, the most intense fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas-led militants has subsided. However, much of the work tied to the ceasefire remains unfinished. Key issues include disarming Hamas, ending its two-decade rule, deploying an international stabilization force, and launching large-scale reconstruction efforts. Meanwhile, residents continue to face uncertainty, with only limited aid entering through a single Israeli-controlled border crossing.
These unresolved challenges may offer a preview of what lies ahead in the broader regional conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach to peacemaking has so far focused on halting active bombardment, leaving more complex, long-term solutions to be addressed later.
Whether such a strategy can succeed in the case of Iran—where more stakeholders are involved and global markets remain sensitive to every development—remains uncertain.
