Displaced Palestinians walk along the coastal road near Wadi Gaza in the central Gaza Strip, moving toward northern Gaza, October 10, 2025. ABDEL KAREEM HANA / AP
Israeli forces declared a ceasefire and withdrew from some positions in Gaza on Friday, October 10, as thousands of displaced Palestinians began to trek home and the families of October 7 hostages awaited news. The Israeli army said that its troops had ceased fire at noon (0900 GMT) "in preparation for the ceasefire agreement and the return of hostages."
Gaza's civil defense agency said Israeli troops and armored vehicles were pulling back from forward positions in both Gaza City and Khan Yunis, and displaced Palestinian civilians told Agence France-Presse (AFP) they hoped to return home. Thousands of civilians could be seen walking along a raised route on Gaza's waterfront, as displaced Palestinians sought to return home after two years of intense fighting.
Gaza's civil defense agency said that the government has approved a framework of a hostage release deal with Hamas, and the military confirmed it was "in the midst of adjusting operational positions in the Gaza Strip."
Before the ceasefire was announced, some fighting continued. An AFP video journalist filming Gaza from Israel reported large plumes of smoke and dust rising above northern Gaza on Friday morning. Contacted by AFP, the Israeli military said it was checking reports of new strikes. Gaza civil defense official Mohammed al-Mughayyir said a municipal worker had been killed by Israeli fire.
