Gaza Ceasefire Now in Effect: IDF

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have announced that a ceasefire is now in effect in the besieged Gaza Strip, according to a report from the BBC. In a statement released via Telegram, the IDF said that on Friday, October 10, at 12:00 PM local time , Israeli troops began withdrawing from certain areas of Gaza and started to take up positions along a newly defined boundary.

According to Israeli media outlet Channel 12, the withdrawal has begun from areas referenced in former U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan, which were agreed upon by both Hamas and Israel. The full withdrawal is expected to be completed within 24 hours.

The report adds that Israeli forces are expected to pull back eastward from Rafah and Khan Younis in the south, as well as from northern parts of Gaza, moving toward the Israeli border.

Several military brigades and divisions have already pulled out from central Gaza. Meanwhile, displaced Palestinian families from the southern areas have started moving northward.

In addition, as part of a joint international task force to monitor the ceasefire, the United States is sending 200 military personnel to Israel. A U.S. Department of Defense official told Al Jazeera that the deployment is already en route to Israel.

The U.S. troop deployment is seen as a critical security guarantee for Hamas, encouraging it to agree to the ceasefire deal.

After three days of indirect negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, both sides agreed to a ceasefire on the night of Wednesday, October 8. The talks were held under U.S. mediation, with representatives from Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar participating.

On Thursday morning (October 9), former President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of his proposed ceasefire and prisoner exchange plan.

Finally, on Friday, October 10, the Israeli government officially approved the ceasefire with Hamas. The announcement was shared via Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s official X (Twitter) account.