WASHINGTON (TNND) — A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas officially went into effect at noon local time on Friday to end the two-year war in Gaza, according to the Israeli military.
Troops began withdrawing to the agreed-upon deployment lines hours after Israel’s Cabinet approved President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan in the Gaza Strip, which includes the release of the remaining hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
“The Ceasefire Agreement Came Into Effect at 12:00,” Israel Defense Forces wrote on X. “Since 12:00, IDF troops began positioning themselves along the updated deployment lines in preparation for the ceasefire agreement and the return of hostages. IDF troops in the Southern Command are deployed in the area and will continue to remove any immediate threat.”
A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the Cabinet approved “the framework for the release of all of the hostages – the living and the deceased,” but did not mention other aspects of the plan.
An Israeli security official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the withdrawal, said the military would control around 50% of Gaza in their new positions.
Trump said on Thursday the U.S. would send about 200 troops to Israel to help support and monitor the ceasefire deal and that the hostages would be released on Monday or Tuesday next week.
“We secured the release of all of the remaining hostages, and they should be released on Monday or Tuesday,” the president said during his Cabinet meeting. “Getting them is a complicated process. I’d rather not tell you what they have to do to get them. There are places you don’t want to be. But we are getting the hostages back on Tuesday — Monday or Tuesday — and that’ll be a day of joy.”
He added that he will “try to make a trip over” for an “official signing” in Egypt to mark the agreement.
A senior Hamas official and lead negotiator made a speech Thursday laying out what he said were the core elements of the ceasefire deal: Israel releasing around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, opening the border crossing with Egypt, allowing aid to flow and Israeli forces withdrawing.
Hamas is expected to release all 20 living hostages as Israeli troops withdraw from a majority of Gaza. While 251 people were taken as hostages during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, 48 remain in captivity.
Photos and videos captured Israelis and Palestinians rejoicing in the streets on Wednesday evening after it was announced that an agreement had been made.
Trump spoke with some family members of the hostages during a phone call with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who stood with them when the news of the brokered peace deal was announced. They expressed their gratitude for Trump’s role in brokering a peace agreement.
“Mr. President, we believe in you, we know you’ve done so much for us in the past, since you became president, even before that,” a hostage said. “And we trust you’ll fulfill the mission until every hostage, until all 48 of the hostages are home. Thank you so much. Blessed be the peacemakers!”
“Thank you very much,” Trump said in response. “You just take care of yourselves. The hostages will come back, they’re all coming back on Monday.”
The two-year war has left upwards of 65,000 people dead and most of the Gaza Strip destroyed.
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Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.
