The Israeli military confirmed on Friday that the ceasefire Gaza is in effect.
“Since 12:00, IDF troops began positioning themselves along the updated deployment lines in preparation for the ceasefire agreement and the return of hostages,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on social media. “IDF troops in the Southern Command are deployed in the area and will continue to remove any immediate threat.”
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff similarly said in a statement on X, “CENTCOM has confirmed that the Israeli Defense Forces completed the first phase withdrawal to the yellow line at 12PM local time. The 72 hour period to release the hostages has begun.”
Discussing the agreement to the peace plans’ first phase on Wednesday evening, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”
“All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen,” Trump wrote. “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”
“With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be brought home. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday.
