Israeli soldiers stand next to military vehicles, after Israel’s government ratified a ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza, on Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border, in Israel, Oct. 10, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Shir Torem

The ceasefire in Gaza officially went into effect at 12:00 pm local time on Friday, with Israel pulling back its forces to agreed-upon deployment lines in the enclave and triggering a 72-hour window for the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas to release the 48 hostages it is still holding captive.

Marking the third pause in fighting since the war began in October 2023, the US-backed ceasefire plan stands as the strongest effort yet to end the two-year conflict that has upended the Middle East.

Shortly after the Israeli cabinet approved the plan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised US President Donald Trump and the mediators for their efforts in securing an agreement aimed at bringing peace to the region.

“I have faced intense national and international pressure and have firmly stood my ground,” Netanyahu said during his speech. “Anyone who says this agreement was on the table from the beginning is not being truthful.”

Under the first phase of the agreement, Hamas must release all 20 living Israeli hostages and as many of the dead hostages that it can secure by Monday at noon local time. Hamas has said it will not be able to locate all the dead hostages in that time, claiming such efforts would depend on “field conditions.”

“We will work to locate all the deceased hostages as soon as possible,” Netanyahu said in his statement.

Once all hostages are released from captivity, Israel will free around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 terrorists serving life sentences.

According to Israeli officials, none of the terrorists being released participated in the Hamas-led invasion of and massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The Israeli government has also approved a last-minute exchange of several Fatah prisoners for Hamas-affiliated detainees as part of the ceasefire agreement.

Following Israel’s partial military withdrawal, its forces remain in control of 53 percent of Gaza, mostly outside of urban areas. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it will remain ready to confront any threats.

“The IDF Southern Command forces are deployed in the area and will continue to act to eliminate any immediate threats,” the Israeli military said in a statement.

US envoy Steve Witkoff posted on social media that the US military had confirmed that the IDF had completed its obligations.

CENTCOM has confirmed that the Israeli Defense Forces completed the first phase withdrawal to the yellow line at 12PM local time. The 72 hour period to release the hostages has begun.

— Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (@SEPeaceMissions) October 10, 2025

Following phase one of the deal, Hamas is supposed to disarm and have no future leadership role in Gaza, according to Trump’s 20-point peace plan. However, disarmament and other unresolved issues will be subject to negotiations once the hostages are released.

“Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza demilitarized. If it can be done the right way, all the better — if not, it will be done by force,” Netanyahu said.

As Israel and Hamas prepare for the hostage and prisoner exchange under the ceasefire deal, Trump is expected to visit the Middle East this weekend, with plans to speak before the Israeli parliament on Monday.

Trump reportedly gave Hamas personal assurances that he would not allow Israel to abandon the agreement and resume fighting unilaterally — a key factor in convincing the terrorist group to accept the deal.

Among Trump’s guarantees was the establishment of a US-led military task force to oversee the ceasefire and respond to any potential violations.