On Friday, Israel confirmed that the ceasefire agreement officially began at noon (0900 GMT).
In a statement issued to Anadolu, the Israeli army explained, “The ceasefire took effect at 12pm Israel time. From that point onward, army units repositioned along new operational lines as per the ceasefire terms and the repatriation of abducted individuals.”
The forces are deployed within the southern command zone and will continue to address immediate threats, though further details were not disclosed.
An Anadolu correspondent close to the scene reported that with the ceasefire in place, thousands of displaced Palestinians began returning from the southern Gaza Strip to Gaza City via Al-Rashid Street, a route now open for movement, alongside Salah al-Din road.
The Israeli army initiated the first stage of its gradual troop withdrawal from Gaza on Friday, with plans to complete this process within 24 hours, as outlined in US President Donald Trump’s blueprint for ending the conflict. Israeli Army Radio confirmed that the entire withdrawal would conclude by Friday afternoon.
Gradual troop withdrawal underway
On Friday, the Israeli army began its gradual withdrawal from Gaza, expected to be completed within 24 hours. The withdrawal is in line with the parameters set in Trump’s plan, which stipulates the forces pull back to the Yellow Line, specifically from areas in the southern Gaza Strip, including Rafah and Khan Yunis, as well as northern regions approaching the Israeli border.
Trump had earlier announced the deal between Israel and Hamas, which came after four days of indirect negotiations in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh, mediated by delegations from Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar under US supervision.
Since the beginning of the conflict in October 2023, Israeli military actions have claimed the lives of nearly 67,200 Palestinians, many of whom were women and children, while causing massive destruction to the region’s infrastructure.
Massive destruction revealed as troops withdraw
As Israeli forces began to pull back from Gaza City, the full extent of the devastation became clear. Footage shared by activists and journalists on social media showed neighborhoods completely flattened, with homes, schools, and roads reduced to debris.
One of the hardest-hit areas was the Saeed Siyam Mosque vicinity in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood. Here, residential buildings were either destroyed or rendered uninhabitable due to heavy artillery bombardment. The eastern section of Sheikh Radwan also faced severe damage, with entire city blocks wiped out and streets torn apart.
Before starting their phased withdrawal, Israeli forces had conducted aggressive bombing and demolition raids across several districts, including Sheikh Radwan, and the adjacent tunnel areas to the east, which had already been hit in previous operations.
Additional footage from the Al-Nasr district, situated northwest of Gaza City, highlighted widespread destruction, with thousands of homes either obliterated or left in ruins.
Gaza Civil Defense urges caution
Gaza’s Civil Defense service issued a public warning on Friday, advising residents to avoid areas recently vacated by Israeli forces.
“We urge citizens not to approach or return to areas where Israeli occupation forces were stationed, especially in Gaza City’s border zones, until an official declaration confirms the full withdrawal,” stated the Gaza Civil Defense Directorate via Telegram.
This caution comes after reports that Israeli forces conducted demolition and bombing operations across several Gaza City neighborhoods, including Sheikh Radwan, before beginning their withdrawal.
