The Israeli military confirmed a cease-fire commenced at noon on Friday, with its forces initiating a repositioning within the Gaza Strip. This development follows the Israeli government’s approval of a landmark deal with Hamas in the early hours of Friday.
In an official statement, the military emphasized that its Southern Command soldiers would remain vigilant to “continue to remove any immediate threat.”
The recently approved agreement outlines a phased approach: all hostages held by Hamas are to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. This also includes an initial withdrawal of Israeli military personnel from Gaza.
Details regarding the immediate on-the-ground situation in Gaza as of Friday remained unconfirmed.
Further specifics of the deal, as revealed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, state that Israeli forces are expected to establish new defensive lines inside Gaza by early Saturday. Following this, Hamas has a 72-hour window to ensure the return of all hostages, including any who may have perished.
The agreement also greenlights the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom were serving life sentences in Israel. Additionally, 1,722 Gazans detained since the war began, and not implicated in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, are to be freed. This group includes 22 individuals under the age of 18.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.