The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday began withdrawing troops from parts of the Gaza Strip, hours after the Israeli government ratified a landmark deal with Hamas to secure the release of hostages.Officials said that the IDF has already started pulling back its troops and the process is currently under way. Some IDF units have already been fully withdrawn from Gaza, while others remain positioned along newly designated deployment lines as part of the agreement. The process is expected to be completed by tonight, within 24 hours of the cabinet’s approval of the deal, according to Times of Israel.The withdrawal is happening alongside some artillery fire and airstrikes to keep Israeli troops safe.Once completed, Israel will retain control over around 53% of the Gaza Strip, including areas along the Philadelphi Corridor on the Egypt-Gaza border, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya in the north, as well as strategic zones around Rafah and Khan Younis in the south.
Visuals of troop withdrawal (Image/X@Doron_Kadosh)
The move follows the Israeli cabinet’s decision on Thursday night to approve a hostage exchange deal brokered by US President Donald Trump. Hamas will release 48 Israeli hostages, while Israel will free 250 Palestinian security prisoners serving life terms, 1700 detainees held since the start of the conflict and the bodies of 360 terrorists. However, Israel has not yet published a full list of those set to be released in the deal.Families of terror victims are being notified about the planned prisoner releases by the National Insurance Institute, while the families of fallen soldiers and police officers are being informed by their respective agencies. The Defense Ministry is overseeing coordination between all involved bodies.The agreement marks a potential turning point in the two-year-long Gaza war. President Trump, announcing the deal earlier, called it a “historic and unprecedented event” and thanked mediators from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey for their roles.Despite the ongoing withdrawal, Israeli airstrikes continue in certain parts of Gaza. The Gaza health ministry reported 11 deaths and 49 injuries in the past 24 hours, underscoring the fragile nature of the emerging truce.Media outlets in Gaza reported that the residents have started to return to their homes in areas from which the IDF has withdrawn.The conflict, which began with Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Gaza’s health ministry reports more than 67,000 Palestinians killed and nearly 170,000 wounded, with women and children accounting for roughly half the deaths.
