Ceasefire takes effect in Gaza as Israel and Hamas begin hostage and prisoner exchange

Gaza ceasefire has kicked into effect, says Israel’s military

The Israeli military announced on Friday that a ceasefire had taken effect in Gaza at 12:00 pm local time (09:00 GMT), with its forces repositioning “in the latest deployment lines, in accordance with the outline of the ceasefire agreement.”

The statement followed the Israeli government’s approval of “phase one” of a ceasefire deal, which includes the release of all hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a partial military withdrawal from Gaza.

In an update, the military said troops “in the Southern Command are deployed in the area and will continue to operate to eliminate any immediate threat.”

The announcement came shortly after Palestinians reported intense shelling in northern Gaza earlier on Friday morning.

According to details of the agreement released by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, Israeli forces will relocate to new deployment lines inside Gaza by early Saturday. In return, Hamas will have 72 hours to release all hostages, including the bodies of those who have died.

The document further states that Israel has authorized the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,722 Gazans detained during the war who were not involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks, including 22 minors.

While the ceasefire formally took effect, reports from Gaza indicated uncertainty about the situation on the ground, as both sides monitored compliance with the initial terms of the agreement.