Israel’s government has approved an outline of a ceasefire plan in Gaza, including a partial IDF withdrawal and hostage releases. The agreement, announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, involves the release of all Israeli hostages and the freeing of 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detained Gazans. The plan was proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump and includes a phased Israeli withdrawal and Hamas disarmament.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on social media that a ceasefire took effect at 12pm local time (9:00 GMT). According to the statement, Israeli troops have withdrawn to the agreed positions within the enclave, though the military said its Southern Command remains in the area and “will continue to remove any immediate threat.”
The Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. Israel’s response has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and triggered a deep humanitarian crisis in the enclave, prompting the UN to accuse West Jerusalem of genocide.
Global leaders across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond largely welcomed Trump’s ceasefire plan as a pivotal step toward ending the conflict, calling for immediate humanitarian access and hostage releases. Several Arab and Islamic nations publicly backed the proposal and urged all parties to seize the diplomatic opening.
Russia also supported the plan, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov saying this week it was currently the best option to stop the bloodshed.