Israel-Hamas ceasefire takes effect in Gaza as hostage release begins

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas got here into impact at midday native time, marking the start of the top of the brutal struggle that has lasted greater than two years. The event additionally brings the hostages one step nearer to returning residence.

US Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff mentioned on Friday morning that US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that Israel had accomplished the primary section of the withdrawal and that Hamas’ 72-hour interval to launch the hostages had begun.

The Israeli authorities accepted and signed the deal in a single day, native time, and initiated a 24-hour countdown clock, throughout which era troops needed to withdraw to a predetermined place.

“Following the directions of the political echelon and because of the state of affairs evaluation, the IDF has begun operational preparations previous to the implementation of the settlement. As a part of this course of, preparations and a fight protocol are underway to quickly transition to adjusted strains of deployment. The IDF continues to be deployed within the space and is ready for any operational growth,” the Israel Protection Forces (IDF) wrote on X.

TRUMP Peace Deal establishes 72-hour countdown for Hamas to launch 48 hostages from Gaza

Israeli troopers stand on army automobiles on the Israeli aspect of the Israel-Gaza border on October 10, 2025, after the Israeli authorities ratified a cope with Hamas. (Shir Torem/Reuters)

Hours later, the IDF confirmed that the ceasefire had begun and that troops had positioned themselves “alongside the up to date deployment strains.”

Though Israel’s presence in Gaza has diminished, the peace deal stipulates that the nation will nonetheless occupy 53% of the enclave till the subsequent section.

IDF spokesman Colonel Avichay Adraee despatched an announcement in Arabic concerning the precise state of affairs on the bottom. He warned Palestinians towards approaching IDF forces because it “endangers your life.” Adraee additionally mentioned that the northern a part of the Gaza Strip stays “extraordinarily harmful,” particularly the areas of Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya, Shejaiya and every other space with a “focus of forces.” Different areas included within the warning had been the Rafah Crossing and the Philadelphi Hall.

“Don’t transfer in the direction of Israeli territory or strategy the safety zone. Approaching the safety zone is extraordinarily harmful. On your security, don’t start coming into these areas till official approval has been granted,” Adraee mentioned in his message.

Now that the IDF has accomplished its repositioning, Hamas has 72 hours to launch all hostages, dwelling and useless. This contains the our bodies of Americans Omer Neutra and Itay Chen.

Palestinians, who had been expelled to the southern a part of Gaza on Israel’s orders throughout the struggle, are shifting out after arriving in Gaza Metropolis after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza got here into impact on October 10, 2025. (Ebrahim Hajjaj/Reuters)

WORLD LEADERS PRAISE ‘LANDMARK’ ISRAEL-HAMAS PEACE DEAL MEDIATED BY US: ‘NEW HORIZON OF HOPE’

The US shouldn’t be sending troops to Gaza; Nonetheless, two US officers confirmed to Fox Information that 200 CENTCOM troops shall be despatched to Israel to watch the ceasefire. They are going to facilitate safety and humanitarian movement and oversee the implementation of the deal, together with transportation, logistics and engineering, the officers mentioned.

President Donald Trump mentioned throughout a Cupboard assembly on Thursday that he anticipated the hostages to be residence Monday or Tuesday. The president additionally introduced that he would journey to the Center East for the official signing of the settlement.

“We’ve secured the discharge of all remaining hostages, and they need to be launched Monday or Tuesday,” Trump mentioned, including that the day the hostages return “shall be a day of rejoicing.”

Folks stroll previous posters of hostages held by the Gaza-based terror group Hamas in Hostages Sq. in Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 10, 2025. (AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP by way of Getty Photos)

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On Wednesday, hours after saying that Israel and Hamas had signed the primary section of the deal, Trump spoke with relations of hostages held in Gaza. The households thanked the president and praised him for brokering a deal that might convey their family members residence after greater than two years in captivity.