The Israeli army announced that the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip will come into effect as of 12:00 local time today. According to other Israeli sources, the transfer of troops from the coastal strip to the demarcation lines in the buffer zones began overnight. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that troops will remain in Gaza to put pressure on Hamas to disarm.
The start of the ceasefire also begins the agreed 72-hour deadline for the release of the living Israeli hostages kidnapped on October 7, 2023. According to Israeli sources, 48 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip, 20 of whom are alive. In exchange, Israel will release more than 2,000 Palestinians, including 250 life prisoners. On Friday morning, Netanyahu said that all hostages would return to their homes.
The situation on the ground is still unclear
In Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, some Israeli troops have withdrawn eastward near the border. In a statement in Arabic, the Israeli army said it was reopening two major roads between the northern and southern Palestinian territories. Residents have been warned not to approach Israeli soldiers.
According to the military, several areas in Gaza remain “extremely dangerous” and should be avoided if possible. These include the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, the so-called Philadelphia corridor near the border, as well as the areas of Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya and Shejaya. In the Nuseirat refugee camp in the center of the strip, Israel has taken down some of the military positions, but some of them remain in the area.
Trump plans to visit the region over the weekend
The White House announced that the United States will send 200 soldiers as part of an international mission to stabilize Gaza. According to two senior US government officials, the American troops will not be deployed in Gaza itself. The soldiers will form the core of a task force that will include representatives of the armed forces of Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and possibly the United Arab Emirates. Where exactly the task force will be deployed is still unclear.
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump is expected to arrive in the Middle East. However, nothing is known about his program, including the places he will visit in the area.
Germany will participate, but not with soldiers
Germany will participate in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. Chancellor Friedrich Merz made a statement, from which it is clear that Berlin will provide immediate humanitarian aid in the amount of 29 million euros. In addition, the federal government, together with Egypt, intends to organize an international conference on the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. Germany will also participate in the peace council proposed by Trump, which will oversee the future transitional government of the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful ruled out the possibility of German soldiers participating in the peacekeeping force.