A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas for the Gaza Strip began at noon local time, according to the Israeli military on Friday. This happened as troops started moving to agreed upon positions. The announcement followed the Israeli Cabinet’s approval of President Donald Trump’s plan, which included terms for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and the freedom of Palestinian prisoners.
Palestinians reported heavy shelling in parts of Gaza throughout Friday morning.
The Israeli Cabinet’s approval of Trump’s plan marks a key step toward ending a ruinous two-year war that has destabilized the Middle East.
Early on Friday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a brief statement confirming the Cabinet’s approval of the “outline” of a deal focused on releasing hostages, though it did not address other, more contentious parts of the plan.
An Israeli security official, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the withdrawal, mentioned that the military would maintain control over approximately 50% of Gaza from their new strategic locations.
Shelling continues through early hours
After the Cabinet approval, Gaza residents reported intensified shelling well into Friday morning.
In the Nuseirat refugee camp located in central Gaza, Mahmoud Sharkawy, among those displaced from Gaza City, reported that artillery shelling grew more intense during the early morning hours.
“The shelling has significantly increased today,” said Sharkawy, adding that low flying military aircraft had been flying over central Gaza.
In northern Gaza, two Gaza City residents told The Associated Press that bombing had been ongoing since the early hours, mostly artillery shelling.
Rami Mhanna, the managing director at Shifa hospital, noted that shelling continued in southern and northern Gaza City even after the ceasefire plan was approved by the Israeli Cabinet.
“It is confusing, we have been hearing shelling all night despite the ceasefire news,” said Heba Garoun, who relocated to another neighborhood within Gaza City after her home in eastern Gaza City was destroyed.
Details of the deal
A senior Hamas official and lead negotiator made a speech Thursday laying out what he said were the core elements of the ceasefire deal: Israel releasing around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, opening the border crossing with Egypt, allowing aid to flow and Israeli forces withdrawing.
Khalil al-Hayya said all women and children held in Israeli jails will also be freed. He did not offer details on the extent of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Al-Hayya said the Trump administration and mediators had given assurances that the war is over, and that Hamas and other Palestinian factions will now focus on achieving self-determination and establishing a Palestinian state.
“We declare today that we have reached an agreement to end the war and the aggression against our people,” Al-Hayya said in a televised speech Thursday evening.
To help support and monitor the ceasefire deal, U.S. officials said they would send about 200 troops to Israel as part of a broader, international team. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not authorized for release.
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