Israeli cabinet approves Gaza ceasefire; Occupation forces begin withdrawal

Hebrew-language sources claimed the Israeli cabinet ratified the ceasefire deal with Itamar Ben-Gvir (Minister of National Security) and Bezalel Smotrich (Minister of Finance) voting against it. Some media outlets added that the Israeli military withdrawal from certain areas of Gaza has already begun.

(This story is being updated...)

UNRWA: 6,000 aid trucks ready to enter Gaza

 Adnan Abu Hasna, UNRWA spokesperson, told Al Jazeera on Friday: “We have 6,000 trucks of humanitarian assistance ready to enter Gaza.”

He added: “We never stopped our work during the war, and we had 12,000 staff in Gaza. Over 170 of our personnel lost their lives during the conflict.”

Abu Hasna explained that UNRWA has warehouses in Egypt and Jordan and is awaiting the go-ahead to begin distributing aid in Gaza.

He emphasized that the people of Gaza urgently need food and medicine, and the situation is changing by the hour. He called for the removal of obstacles blocking the opening of Gaza’s crossings.

The spokesperson also noted that Israel has been implementing laws since last year that hinder coordination between UNRWA and Israeli authorities.

He stressed that life in Gaza must be restored to normal immediately.

Palestinians return home to Gaza city and the North

Thousands of displaced Palestinians who had been relocated to the southern regions for months have begun returning to their homes in Gaza City and northern Gaza following the implementation of the ceasefire.

According to Al Jazeera’s correspondent, shortly after the ceasefire took effect, groups of displaced families started heading back toward Gaza City. Major roads — including Al-Rashid and Salah al-Din Streets, the main north-south arteries — were reopened to facilitate their return.

Local sources reported a mass movement of people leaving refugee camps and temporary shelters in southern Gaza to head north.

Hamas: We are monitoring the occupation army’s withdrawal

A Hamas spokesperson told Al Arabiya:

“The ceasefire agreement has entered the implementation phase. We are monitoring the Israeli army’s withdrawal as stipulated. The landscape and features of Gaza’s cities have completely changed, but the Palestinian people have proven that they will foil any attempt at displacement.”

He added: “Gaza has been turned into a wasteland after massive destruction. Our local committees are organizing the return of the displaced. There are sections of Donald Trump’s plan that require further discussion. Israel is showing obstinacy regarding the list of Palestinian prisoners.”

He continued: “Hamas’s weapons are legitimate tools of defense for the Palestinian people. We will cooperate with all parties to ensure the continuation of the ceasefire and are holding talks with mediators to review the remaining clauses of Trump’s proposal.”

Netanyahu: Major challenges still lie ahead

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking on Friday after the ceasefire began to take effect in Gaza, claimed:

“I promised the families of the hostages that I would bring them all home — and today we are fulfilling that promise. Our focus has been on Israel’s security, achieving the war’s goals, freeing the captives, and eliminating Iran’s ballistic missiles. Returning the hostages has been our primary commitment for the past two years.”

However, families of the Israeli captives accused Netanyahu of repeatedly delaying the ceasefire and prisoner exchange to secure his own political survival.

According to Al Jazeera, Netanyahu further claimed: “We exerted intense military and political pressure on Hamas to advance the next stages of the agreement and its disarmament. We are now focused on freeing the hostages, who will soon return home.”

He added: “I thank U.S. President Donald Trump for his plan to secure the hostages, as well as his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The war is not over yet — there are still major challenges and opportunities ahead. We will complete our mission and expand the circle of peace.”

Israel manipulating list of Palestinian prisoners

According to Channel 13, citing a source, Israel has not yet published the list of Palestinian prisoners to be released and is trying to alter 10 names on the list.

35 bodies found in Gaza since morning

Hospital sources in Gaza reported that since this morning, the bodies of 35 martyrs have been recovered from various areas across the Strip.

Claims of Israeli military withdrawal

The Israeli Army Radio claimed that the Etzioni Reserve Brigade has withdrawn from Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, while Channel 12 reported that the 188th Brigade has also left the Strip.

Army Radio further alleged that Israeli forces will be positioned by noon along the withdrawal lines outlined in the agreement.

Israel Hayom also claimed that the army has begun withdrawing toward the “Yellow Line” in Gaza as part of the first phase of the deal.

Colombian president: Hope this ceasefire leads toward a Palestinian State

Colombian President Gustavo Petro welcomed the new Gaza ceasefire and expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people, saying he hopes it will pave the way for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

In a message, Petro said:

“Together with the people of Palestine, we celebrate the end of the fighting and the start of this new ceasefire. We know that previous agreements have often failed, but we hope this time the path will be different — a real step toward the creation of a Palestinian state.”

Ankara: The World is ready to respond if Israel resumes the war

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the need for strict monitoring of the ceasefire’s first phase and warned of possible Israeli attempts to reignite the conflict.

Fidan said: “The first stage of this plan must be followed with great precision and sensitivity, as Israel might try to impose war again.”

He added that the international community is on alert to respond if Israel violates the agreement.

“Some challenges are natural in implementing such agreements, but these should not lead us to pessimism or despair,” he said.

Israeli army admits to soldier killed in northern Gaza

The Israeli military announced that one of its combat engineering soldiers was killed in northern Gaza during clashes on Thursday.

Trump’s visit to Israel delayed

According to Israel Hayom, citing an informed source, Donald Trump’s visit to Israel has likely been postponed until Monday.

U.S. troops begin deployment to Israel

A U.S. official told Al Jazeera that about 200 U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) troops have begun arriving in Israel to coordinate the Trump peace plan’s implementation in Gaza.

These troops will oversee aid delivery, logistics, and security coordination, but are not expected to be deployed inside Gaza.

The White House confirmed that around 200 CENTCOM personnel will supervise the implementation of the peace agreement from within Israel.

Hebrew sources on the implementation phases of the Trump proposal

Israeli public radio and television reported that the Trump proposal’s steps include:

• Immediate cessation of hostilities upon cabinet approval.
• All airstrikes, artillery fire, and targeting operations to stop within 72 hours.
• Aerial surveillance over withdrawn areas to cease.
• Humanitarian aid deliveries to begin immediately, following the January 19 framework.
• Israeli forces to withdraw to agreed demarcation lines within 24 hours after cabinet approval.
• The army will not return to evacuated areas as long as Hamas complies with the deal.
• All Israeli captives — living and deceased — will be released within 72 hours of the withdrawal, and Israel will release an equivalent number of Palestinian prisoners based on agreed lists.
• A joint monitoring task force comprising the U.S., Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and other countries will oversee the agreement’s implementation.