Israel and Hamas Agree to Gaza Ceasefire; IDF Begins Troop Redeployment
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is now in effect, the Israeli military confirmed on Friday, marking a pivotal moment in the two-year conflict that has devastated the Gaza Strip. The truce follows an agreement brokered the day before, initiating a process that aims to secure the release of hostages and allow critical humanitarian aid into the territory.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated the ceasefire took hold at noon local time. In accordance with the deal, troops have begun relocating to new defensive positions within Gaza. “IDF troops in the Southern Command are deployed in the area and will continue to remove any immediate threat,” the military announced.
This initial de-escalation is the first phase of a 20-point peace proposal put forward by US President Donald Trump. The agreement, a significant diplomatic breakthrough, seeks to end a war that has rattled the Middle East. The conflict began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, in which the group killed at least 1,200 people and seized over 250 hostages.
The Terms of the Deal
Under the agreement, a full cessation of hostilities is underway as Israel initiates a partial withdrawal of its forces from Gaza. In return, Hamas is committed to freeing all remaining hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. President Trump confirmed that the hostage releases are anticipated to start early next week.
The deal also paves the way for a large-scale humanitarian operation. Convoys of trucks carrying food, medicine, and other essential supplies are scheduled to enter Gaza to assist the hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced by the fighting, which has left large areas in ruins.
The Path Forward and Remaining Hurdles
The first phase of the agreement stipulates that Hamas will release all surviving Israeli hostages, estimated to be around 20 individuals. The IDF will simultaneously pull back to pre-defined lines. According to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hamas took 251 hostages two years ago. Since then, 148 have been freed through prior deals or military actions, and the bodies of 57 others have been recovered.
Despite the progress, significant challenges remain. A Palestinian official disclosed that the list of Palestinian prisoners to be released has not yet been finalized, with Hamas reportedly seeking the inclusion of high-profile inmates.
Key components of President Trump’s peace plan are still unresolved, including the contentious issues of who will govern Gaza after the war and the future of Hamas, which has rejected Israeli demands to disarm. Domestically, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces political pressure from within his coalition, with far-right ministers threatening to topple the government over the deal.
Nevertheless, the start of the ceasefire has been met with widespread relief and celebration across the region, offering a moment of hope after years of conflict and loss.