Gaza ceasefire begins: thousands of Gazans move north
The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took effect at 12:00 local time (11:00 a.m. Dutch time). The Israeli army announced this after Israel and Hamas had already agreed to the ceasefire.
Earlier on Friday, the Israeli military began withdrawing troops to the so-called yellow line, an initial withdrawal line in the Gaza Strip. Israeli media reported that this withdrawal has now been completed, and that the ceasefire is now officially in effect.
Under the terms of the agreement, Hamas now has 72 hours to release the hostages. According to The Jerusalem Post, this includes both living and deceased hostages.
A large-scale population movement has begun in the Gaza Strip following the ceasefire. According to the AFP news agency, thousands of Palestinians are moving into northern Gaza, which they were previously forced to leave due to a major Israeli offensive.
Social media shows Al-Rashid Street, Gaza's coastal road, packed with people walking north. The road was closed earlier this month by the Israeli army.
Israel launched a major operation in Gaza City in August. It had urged residents to leave the city and move south, where a so-called humanitarian zone had been established. However, airstrikes were also frequent there, and according to human rights organizations, civilians were not safe.
The United States is deploying 200 troops as part of the joint task force tasked with overseeing stability in Gaza. The troops will be present in the region, but not in Gaza, according to senior US officials. Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and likely the United Arab Emirates will also be part of the task force.
Israelis are overjoyed now that the peace agreement has been signed and the ceasefire has taken effect. After US President Trump announced the agreement between Hamas and Israel on Wednesday night, the families of hostages immediately went to "Hostage Square" in Tel Aviv. The reactions were jubilant: Michel Illouz, the father of the slain hostage Guy, lifted the mother of the surviving hostage Matan, Einav Zangauker , in ecstasy.
Hopeful messages also came from Gaza. Hours after Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement , music filled the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Hospital in Deir al-Balah, in the heart of the Gaza Strip.
People danced joyfully .
