CAIRO—As of noon local time on Friday, the Israeli military announced the commencement of a cease-fire in Gaza, paving the way for both the release of remaining hostages and an increase in humanitarian aid to the area.
On Friday morning, Israeli troops commenced their withdrawal from sections of the Gaza Strip, according to both Israeli and Arab officials. The Israeli government approved the cease-fire, which stipulates that its forces will retreat to a specified yellow border marked on a map. Following this withdrawal, Hamas mentioned they would deploy their internal security forces to the emptied areas.
This troop withdrawal marks a key moment in the cease-fire arrangements and sets a 72-hour countdown for releasing hostages, according to mediators involved in talks.
Negotiators noted that critical points are still being finalized in Egypt, such as accurately marking the yellow line, negotiating the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention, and the management of the Rafah border crossing linking Gaza to Egypt.
Israeli medical facilities and military units are on standby to receive the hostages, drawing from lessons learned in past exchanges of captives since the conflict began. Humanitarian aid groups are also gearing up to enter Gaza with essential supplies, as some aid trucks were permitted passage in recent months—but the quantities have been significantly insufficient.
While celebrations erupted across Gaza and Tel Aviv, many remain cautiously optimistic, hoping the cease-fire holds. Live feeds showed smoke rising over Gaza Friday morning and, later, many Palestinians flocked up a crucial coastal road towards Gaza City, the destination from which Israel had ordered a mass exodus in response to significant military action in the recent months.
There’s palpable fear in Gaza that failing to uphold this agreement might reignite hostilities, as witnessed in previous cease-fire collapses. Families of Israeli hostages await anxiously to be reunited amid efforts to elevate their plight on the international stage.
Some residents of Gaza reported hearing blasts early Friday, later confirmed by an Israeli source indicating their military was demolishing some of their own equipment during the withdrawal. Just before the cease-fire was ratified, Israeli forces conducted airstrikes in northern Gaza, citing threats posed to their troops by militant activities.
President Trump revealed the cease-fire deal earlier this week, delineating a path towards healing, stemming from the October 7, 2023, attacks led by Hamas in southern Israel that caused approximately 1,200 deaths and led to roughly 250 people being taken hostage. It’s estimated that around 20 hostages remain alive in Gaza, in addition to the hearts of another approximately 28.
This cease-fire represents a significant pause in conflict for the first time since March, offering a glimmer of hope in efforts to conclude a two-year war that has devastated countless Palestinian lives and left Gaza in shambles.
The U.S. government is optimistic that this might just be the beginning of a longer conversation regarding disarming Hamas and potentially establishing a transitional governing body in Gaza.
During a brief statement on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that moving forward, Hamas will be disarmed—whether through negotiation or force. He remarked, “Hamas only conceded to this agreement under immense pressure.”
As reported by U.S. officials, an international stabilization force will be led by U.S. Central Command, establishing a coordination center which might include neighboring Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE.
This Thursday, the arrival of U.S. troops in Israel was initiated, with an initial batch of about 200 troops intended to support the cease-fire efforts in Gaza through monitoring and facilitating humanitarian access.
For insights, reach out to Omar Abdel-Baqui at omar.abdel-baqui@wsj.com, Summer Said at summer.said@wsj.com, or Anat Peled at anat.peled@wsj.com.
