On Friday morning, thousands of Palestinians were observed moving northward within the Gaza Strip following the Israeli military’s announcement of a ceasefire, as captured in footage obtained by AFP.
The ceasefire, which reportedly commenced at 9:00 a.m. GMT, triggered an immediate exodus of displaced families eager to return to their residences after enduring weeks of relentless shelling.
International news outlets broadcast images of long lines of men, women, and children traveling along the coastal highway, many carrying their possessions in bags and carts, their faces reflecting a mix of fatigue and relief.
This truce marks the first concrete outcome of a vigorous diplomatic effort led by U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently unveiled a new peace proposal aimed at ending the Gaza conflict.
Trump announced on his social media channels that both Israel and Hamas had agreed to the initial phase of his comprehensive 20-point peace framework, designed to cease hostilities, secure the release of hostages, and initiate a gradual Israeli military withdrawal.
According to the agreement, Israeli forces will partially retreat to a previously established boundary, ceding control over certain areas of Gaza. Meanwhile, Hamas is expected to release approximately 48 hostages, with around 20 believed to be alive within 72 hours of the ceasefire’s start.
In exchange, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences and 1,700 others detained since the outbreak of the conflict. Additionally, a critical border crossing between Egypt and Gaza will reopen to allow humanitarian aid to flow into the region.
President Trump described the agreement as “historic” and committed to ensuring its full execution, with significant support from regional actors such as Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey playing key mediation roles.
