The Israeli military confirmed on Friday that a cease-fire had officially taken effect at noon, with its forces commencing repositioning efforts within the Gaza Strip.
In a formal statement, the military underscored that its Southern Command soldiers would remain poised to “continue to remove any immediate threat,” indicating a cautious stance despite the truce.
This significant declaration comes on the heels of the Israeli government’s early Friday approval of a crucial deal forged between Israel and Hamas. The agreement encompasses the release of all hostages currently held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, along with an initial pullback of Israeli military personnel from Gaza.
As of Friday, the immediate on-the-ground reality within Gaza following the cease-fire implementation was not fully clear.
According to the terms of the deal, as released by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, Israeli troops are slated to move to new deployment lines inside Gaza by early Saturday. Following this, Hamas has been granted a 72-hour period to ensure the return of all hostages, which regrettably includes the bodies of those who have perished.
The agreement further stipulates Israel’s authorization for the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners who were serving life sentences. Additionally, 1,722 Gazans, who had been detained during the war but were not involved in the October 7, 2023 attacks, are also set to be released, including 22 individuals under the age of 18.
This is an unfolding story, and we will provide further updates as new information emerges.