Ceasefire takes effect in Gaza

New Delhi, Oct 10: A ceasefire 3between Israel and Hamas has now come into effect after Israeli troops began withdrawing from parts of Gaza early Friday morning, according to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), BBC reported.

The IDF said its forces had repositioned “along the lines agreed under the Trump plan,” adding that troops would “continue to remove any immediate threat” even as the ceasefire holds.

Somewhat relieved, Palestinians in thousands have started returning to their homes. The development follows the Israeli government’s approval of a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas, which could mark a turning point in the two-year-old war.

Under the agreement, Hamas has 72 hours to release all remaining Israeli hostages, while Israel will free hundreds of Palestinian detainees held in its prisons.

“We are at a momentous development,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared shortly after midnight, as confirmation came through that both sides had agreed to the plan.

BBC correspondents report that Israeli troops began pulling back overnight, taking up new positions within Gaza as part of the first phase of the deal. The IDF confirmed that the ceasefire had formally taken effect in the early hours.

The mood in Gaza, BBC reports, is a “mixture of hope and fear” as residents cautiously welcome what could be the end of one of the deadliest conflicts in recent years.

Once the agreement is fully implemented, aid convoys are expected to surge into Gaza, bringing urgently needed food, fuel, and medical supplies for more than two million displaced people.

The deal’s first phase, the withdrawal and the initial exchange of hostages and prisoners, is set to unfold over the next three days.

However, analysts caution that major challenges remain, including future talks on Gaza’s political status, the possible return of the Palestinian Authority, and broader discussions over the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Meanwhile, US officials confirmed that 200 American troops have been deployed to Israel to assist in coordinating the ceasefire and aid logistics.

Washington stressed that no US personnel would enter Gaza itself.

BBC reports that international observers are watching closely to see whether the fragile truce will hold beyond the initial 72-hour window, paving the way for a longer-term peace arrangement.

The plan, backed by both Washington and regional mediators, aims to halt hostilities and pave the way for a broader political settlement.

However, the durability of the truce and the complex logistics of the hostage and prisoner exchanges remain key challenges in the days ahead.