Fragile ceasefire begins in Gaza after last-minute Israeli strikes
A fragile ceasefire, brokered by the United States, has taken effect in Gaza, shortly after Israel conducted last-minute strikes on the strip.
The Israeli military said the ceasefire officially began on Friday at 12 PM local time (9 AM GMT), following the completion of its withdrawal to agreed-upon lines of the first phase of the truce agreement.
By midday Friday, Israeli tanks had pulled back from the coastal road of al-Rashid Street, which runs from southern to northern Gaza, allowing thousands of displaced people to return to Gaza City.
The Israeli military’s announcement came shortly after Israel bombarded areas across the Gaza Strip.
The occupying regime conducted air and artillery strikes in Gaza City and Khan Younis on Friday morning, hours after the Israeli cabinet approved the ceasefire deal.
Gunshots were also reported in the strip, but there were no immediate reports of possible casualties.
At least eight Palestinians were killed on Thursday when Israeli forces carried out strikes in Gaza, after mediators announced that a deal had been reached.
Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya has announced the initiation of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
The Israeli cabinet approved the plan on Thursday. Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya also confirmed on Thursday that the movement had also approved the agreement “to end the war.”
He noted that the US and other mediators had given guarantees that the signing of the deal would mean the war “has ended indefinitely.”
Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that troops are expected to complete their withdrawal from major urban centers in Gaza by Saturday morning.
Twenty living Israeli captives held in Gaza and several bodies are expected to be released within 72 hours after that, in return for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel.
The deal marks the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan, with further stages to be negotiated at a later date.
Israel has so far killed at least 67,194 Palestinians since it launched the genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023.
