Israel’s initial withdrawal from parts of Gaza City on Friday exposed the vast scale of destruction across residential neighborhoods and infrastructure, where entire districts have been reduced to rubble.
US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff announced on Friday that Israeli occupation forces have completed their Gaza withdrawal to the yellow line, as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement.
“CENTCOM has confirmed that the Israeli Defense Forces completed the first phase withdrawal to the yellow line at 12PM local time,” he stated on X. “The 72 hour period to release the hostages has begun.”
CENTCOM has confirmed that the Israeli Defense Forces completed the first phase withdrawal to the yellow line at 12PM local time. The 72 hour period to release the hostages has begun.
— Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (@SEPeaceMissions) October 10, 2025
Under US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan for Gaza, Hamas is required to release 20 captives and hand over the bodies of 28 deceased prisoners within 72 hours of the agreement taking effect. However, the terms of the deal note challenges in locating the bodies of the deceased captives, according to the Anadolu news agency.
In exchange for the Israeli captives, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 detainees who were arrested in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
‘War Not Over Yet’
According to Al Jazeera Arabic, Israeli army spokesperson Efi Dverin said: “Our forces are stationed along the Yellow Line in Gaza, and the soldiers will work to eliminate any threat.”
Dverin added that a 72-hour period has begun, “after which our captives will be released.”
“We are preparing to receive the captives who were held in Gaza. The war is not over yet — major challenges remain,” he stated.
Following a Last-Minute Massacre in Gaza, Israel Says Ceasefire Takes Effect
The Israeli army earlier announced its gradual withdrawal to the east of the Gaza Strip in accordance with US President Donald Trump’s plan, adding that it will complete its withdrawal from Gaza City within 24 hours, Al Jazeera Arabic reported on Friday.
“Over the next 24 hours, the Israeli army will complete its withdrawal from certain areas inside the Gaza Strip to the yellow line, as agreed in the Trump plan between Israel and Hamas,” Israeli Channel 12 reported, according to Anadolu.
It said, “The forces are expected to withdraw eastward from Rafah and Khan Yunis (south) and from areas north of the Gaza Strip and approach the border with the State of Israel.”
Withdrawal of Units
The channel also reported that the regular 7th Brigade had withdrawn from the Strip, later reporting that the 188th Brigade was leaving the Gaza Strip.
After The Prisoner Exchange, over 11,000 Palestinian Hostages Will Remain
The Israeli army radio reported that the Etzioni reserve brigade began withdrawing from Khan Yunis in the south of the Palestinian sector. The Walla website reportedly indicated that the Israeli army withdrew combat units belonging to Major General Golani and other forces from the Strip.
Israeli forces also began withdrawing from Gaza City and the beach camp and the center of the Strip towards the agreed yellow line, and will be deployed at several control points that allow the protection of soldiers, the report added.
Ceasefire in Effect
Israel announced on Friday that the Gaza ceasefire agreement came into effect as of 12 noon local time (0900 GMT).
“Starting at 12:00, army forces took up positions on the new operational deployment lines based on the ceasefire agreement and the return of the abductees,” the Israeli army said in a written statement sent to Anadolu.
“Army forces are deployed in the southern command in the area and will continue to work to remove any immediate threat,” the statement continued, without providing further details.
📌 Details of the ceasefire taking effect in Gaza ⤵️
▶️ The ceasefire covers the complete cessation of all military activities, including airstrikes, artillery fire, and ground operations
🔄 The Israeli army will withdraw to the ‘yellow line’ border within 24 hours
👥 The… pic.twitter.com/eoBHXoR4I3
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) October 10, 2025
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced in the early hours of Friday that the government officially approved Trump’s proposal to end the war in Gaza and return the captives.
The office said that the government “agreed on the outline for the release of all the hostages.”
Attacks Continued
The announcement followed the launch of incendiary light bombs by the Israeli army in the sky of the northwestern areas of Gaza City, Al Jazeera Arabic reported, as well as airstrikes on Gaza City and Khan Yunis. The last strike targeted a house, killing 4 Palestinians, with 40 still missing under the rubble.
Ceasefire Violation: Israel Shells Gaza Hours after Agreement Ratified
Israel’s initial withdrawal from parts of Gaza City on Friday exposed the vast scale of destruction across residential neighborhoods and infrastructure, where entire districts have been reduced to rubble, Anadolu reported.
Residents Urged to be Cautious
Meanwhile, Gaza’s Civil Defense service urged the residents of Gaza City on Friday to stay away from areas where Israeli forces are withdrawing from.
“We urge you not to approach or return to areas where occupation forces were present, particularly the border areas of Gaza City, until after an official announcement of the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces and confirmation of this by the relevant authorities,” the General Directorate of Civil Defense in the Gaza Strip said.
Displaced Palestinians prepare to return home following the ceasefire takes effect ⤵️
More than 1.9 million people, nearly Gaza’s entire population, have been displaced due to the Israeli bombardments pic.twitter.com/4viLU43SgS
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) October 10, 2025
The warning comes as the Israeli army, before beginning its phased pullback, reportedly conducted intense demolition and bombing operations across several neighborhoods, including Sheikh Radwan. The nearby tunnel area to the east also suffered widespread destruction, having already been targeted in previous operations.
The Gaza Strip witnessed a human flood of Palestinians returning to their areas in Gaza City and the north of the Strip via Al-Rashid and Salah El-Din streets, after the ceasefire came into effect.
An Al Jazeera correspondent confirmed the beginning of the arrival of several displaced persons to Gaza City after the opening of Al-Rashid and Salah El-Din streets, amid warnings of the presence of unexploded ordnance.
Staggering Death Toll
Starting on October 7, 2023, the Israeli military, with American support, launched a genocidal war against the people of Gaza. This campaign has so far resulted in the deaths of more than 67,000 Palestinians, with nearly 170,000 wounded. The vast majority of the population has been displaced, and the destruction of infrastructure is unprecedented since World War II. Thousands of people are still missing.
Israeli Psychological Warfare and Bombing after The Ceasefire – Analysis
In addition to the military assault, the Israeli blockade has caused a man-made famine, leading to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians—mostly children—with hundreds of thousands more at risk.
Despite widespread international condemnation, little has been done to hold Israel accountable. The nation is currently under investigation for genocide by the International Court of Justice, while accused war criminals, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are officially wanted by the International Criminal Court.
(PC, AJA, Anadolu)
Be the first to comment