U.S. President’s Donald Trump’s inner circle helped get the deal over the line.
The Israeli military said Friday a ceasefire began in Gaza at noon local time, as the “first phase” of a peace deal agreed by Israel and Hamas comes into effect.
The agreement includes the release of Israeli hostages held by Palestinian militant group Hamas, and a withdrawal of Israel’s troops from Gaza to an agreed line, after more than two years of war.
“IDF troops began positioning themselves along the updated deployment lines in preparation for the ceasefire agreement and the return of hostages. IDF troops in the Southern Command are deployed in the area and will continue to remove any immediate threat,” the Israel Defense Forces wrote on X.
According to both Israeli and Qatari media, residents of Gaza have started returning to the north of the coastal enclave but were warned by the IDF not to approach Israeli soldiers.
The release of Israeli hostages is expected to begin within 72 hours of the ceasefire’s implementation. In exchange, Israel will release 1,950 Palestinians, including 250 prisoners serving life sentences.
U.S. President’s Donald Trump’s inner circle helped get the deal over the line.