Khalil Al-Hayya said that he received guarantees from the United States and other mediators confirming the end of the conflict.
Hamas Gaza chief Khalil Al-Hayya said that Hamas has received guarantees from the United States, Arab mediators, and Turkey that the war in Gaza has permanently ended. According to the official Hamas telegram channel, Al-Hayya stated that the Hamas delegation arrived at negotiations in Egypt “armed with responsibility and positivity” before finalizing the details of the first stage of implementation
The ceasefire in Gaza is now in effect and Israeli forces are pulling back from parts of the territory in accordance with the deal approved by the Israeli government overnight, the Israeli military said today. The IDF troops positioned along the “updated deployment lines” will “continue to remove any immediate threat,” the IDF said. BBC News reports.
Thousands of Palestinians have started moving from southern Gaza toward Gaza City following the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the area. According to an IDF spokesperson, “movement from the south to the north of Gaza is permitted” as the ceasefire came into effect at 12 p.m. local time. CNN reports; Alexander Cornwell and Nida Al-Mughrabi report for Reuters.
The Israeli forces’ partial withdrawal has now triggered a 72-hour countdown for Hamas to release the hostages it is holding. Separately, Israel has published the names of 250 Palestinian prisoners set for release as part of the agreement and Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya said he received guarantees from the United States and other mediators that the war is over. Jeremy Diamond reports for CNN; Tamar Michaelis reports for CNN; Reuters reports.
Eyewitnesses in Gaza told BBC News of Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis and artillery shelling and gunfire in the Netzarim corridor early this morning. According to the IDF, the ceasefire agreement came into effect at midday local time. The IDF said they were looking into the reports of airstrikes. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, a total of 17 people have been killed in Gaza in the past 24 hours. Tom Bennett and Hugo Bachega report; BBC News reports.
In a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today thanked President Trump “for his global leadership and his relentless efforts to put together this plan to return the hostages” and “great friendship toward our people and country.” Netanyahu also thanked the U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Tamar Michaelis and Catherine Nicholls report for CNN.
ISRAEL HAMAS WAR — U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
U.S. officials said yesterday that the United States will send 200 U.S. troops to Israel to monitor the implementation of the cease-fire deal in Gaza. The U.S. soldiers will join troops from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the UAE to provide oversight and will work to establish a civil-military coordination center in Israel to provide security and humanitarian support. The U.S. soldiers are not intended to enter Gaza, one official said. Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt report for the New York Times.