The Israeli Army on Friday said that the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip proposed by United States President Donald Trump came into effect at 12 pm local time.
“Since 12:00 [2.30 IST], IDF [Israel Defense Forces] troops began positioning themselves along the updated deployment lines in preparation for the ceasefire agreement and the return of hostages,” it said on social media. “IDF troops in the Southern Command are deployed in the area and will continue to remove any immediate threat.”
Earlier in the day, Israel’s Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement proposed by Trump, clearing the way to suspend hostilities in Gaza and free Israeli hostages held there, the Associated Press reported.
The decision came about 24 hours after Trump announced that Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas have “both signed off” on the first phase of the peace plan for Gaza.
The first phase of the peace deal includes a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
In a social media post on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “The government has just now approved the framework for the release of all of the hostages – the living and the deceased.”
The government has just now approved the framework for the release of all of the hostages – the living and the deceased.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 9, 2025 Khalil al-Hayya, the head of Hamas’ negotiating team said that the group has received guarantees from the US and meditators that an agreement on a first phase of the ceasefire agreement means the war in Gaza “has ended completely”, Al Jazeera reported.
“We declare today that we have reached an agreement to end the war and the aggression against our people,” AP quoted al-Hayya as saying in a televised speech on Thursday evening.
However, discussions still remain on further steps in Trump’s 20-point peace plan. These include the matter of disarmament, the governance of Gaza or whether Hamas will demilitarise.
In the hours leading up to the Israeli cabinet’s vote, Tel Aviv’s airstrikes over Gaza continued.
On Thursday, Israeli fighter jets bombed the western part of Gaza City and its ground forces detonated an armoured vehicle near homes in the Sabra neighbourhood.
Explosions were also reported in northern Gaza and a strike on a building in Gaza City killed at least two persons and left more than 40 trapped under the rubble, the Associated Press quoted Palestinian Civil Defence as saying.
Israel’s military offensive in Gaza began in October 2023 after Hamas killed 1,200 persons during its incursion into southern Israel and took hostages. Israel has been carrying out unprecedented air and ground strikes on besieged Gaza since then, leaving more than 67,000 persons dead.
In August, the United Nations formally declared a famine in northern Gaza. In September, a commission of inquiry set up by the United Nations said that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel called the report “distorted and false”, and demanded that the commission be immediately abolished.
Israel and Hamas had been holding ceasefire talks since July. Earlier efforts to reinstate a brief ceasefire that took effect in January had stalled due to disagreements between the two sides.
Trump’s proposal
The peace plan announced by Trump on September 29 entails Israeli forces partially withdrawing from Gaza to prepare for hostages to be released.
Within 72 hours of Israel accepting the proposal, Hamas would have to return all hostages, whether alive or dead. Subsequently, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners undergoing life terms, as well as 1,700 Gaza residents who were detained after the conflict began.
Members of Hamas who “commit to peaceful coexistence” and agree to lay down arms will be given amnesty. Hamas members who want to leave Gaza will be given safe passage to receiving countries, as per the proposal.
The White House said that Israel will not annex Gaza and no one will be forced to leave the region.
The proposal also envisions a “Board of Peace” comprising international overseers led by Trump himself. The board will include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, although the proposal has not yet specified his role.
Gaza will be governed by a temporary “technocratic, apolitical” committee comprising Palestinians and global experts and the “Board of Peace” will oversee the committee’s functioning.
The proposal will require Hamas to have no direct or indirect role in governing Gaza.
Also read: With its silence on Palestinian statehood, US proposal deceives rather than bringing peace |
