The Israeli army began withdrawing its troops from Gaza on Friday under the first phase of a U.S.-brokered cease-fire agreement, marking what could be the most significant step toward ending the two-year war that has devastated the enclave and isolated Israel on the global stage.
According to Israeli media, forces are retreating eastward from Rafah, Khan Younis and parts of northern Gaza toward positions along the so-called “yellow line,” as laid out in U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace initiative. The pullout is expected to be completed within 24 hours.
Israel’s government ratified the cease-fire with Hamas early Friday, setting in motion a 72-hour window to release Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, while suspending active combat across the Strip.
“The government has just approved the framework for the release of all hostages – the living and the deceased,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on X.
On the ground, the shift was visible.
