Israel Completes First Phase of Gaza Withdrawal as Cease-Fire Begins

Israel has completed the first phase of its withdrawal from Gaza as the cease-fire to end the Israel–Hamas war has begun.

This begins a 72-hour countdown for all hostages—living and dead—still held by Hamas to be released.

“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 X at around 12:20 p.m. local time. “IDF troops in the Southern Command are deployed in the area and will continue to remove any immediate threat.”

The IDF retreated to a line agreed to between Israel and Hamas in the deal, which was signed in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh. The line includes the Gaza town of Rafah, a point of contention during the war.

With the partial withdrawal, Israel will control 53 percent of the Gaza Strip, according to a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The IDF will receive the hostages.

“With the ceasefire coming into effect today, after more than two years of intense operations in Gaza, the IDF is finally preparing to receive the remaining 48 hostages,” the military said in a post on X.

“This is an emotional moment for the people of Israel and for the troops of the IDF who fought and acted, over the past two years with courage, bravery, and dedication,” IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said in the post.

On Thursday, Israel’s cabinet approved the first phase of the cease-fire.

“We are at a tremendous development. We fought during these last two years to achieve our war aims and central to one of these war aims is to return the hostages—all of the hostages, the living and the dead. And we’re about to achieve that goal,” Netanyahu said at the cabinet meeting.

“We couldn’t have achieved it without the extraordinary help of President [Donald] Trump and his team, [U.S. Mideast Special Envoy] Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner.”

Netanyahu praised Israel’s soldiers for going into Gaza and credited diplomatic and military pressure for isolating Hamas.

In exchange for Hamas releasing the hostages, Israel will release more than 2,000 prisoners, including 250 who are currently serving life sentences.

Trump announced on Oct. 8 that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the cease-fire.

“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “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.”

Trump said on Oct. 9 that he would be going to the Middle East on Sunday.

The president has accepted an invitation to speak from the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Trump will be the first U.S. president since George W. Bush to address the Knesset.