Ceasefire Takes Effect in Gaza as Israeli Troops Withdraw, Hostage Release Planned

 
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has announced that the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip has come into effect from this afternoon, following the withdrawal of Israeli troops to the agreed-upon deployment lines under a deal with Hamas aimed at facilitating the release of all the hostages. The IDF said in a statement that its troops began positioning themselves along the updated deployment lines in preparation for the ceasefire agreement and the return of hostages. Meanwhile,  in a video address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that as the country celebrates tremendous achievements in the War of Rebirth, the return of all captives, both living and dead, was the central goal that his government had adhered to throughout. Israel and Hamas agreed to pause hostilities in Gaza yesterday, a deal US President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform.