"Thousands of displaced Palestinians have begun to return home from southern Gaza after a ceasefire came into effect and Israeli troops withdrew to an agreed-upon redeployment line the first time that fighting has stopped in the devastated territory since March. The Israeli military said the ceasefire agreement, which was approved by the Israeli cabinet on Thursday night and begins the first phase of a US-drafted plan to end the war in Gaza, had been activated at noon local time (0900 GMT) on Friday."
"Under the terms of the plan, Hamas is expected to release the 20 living Israeli hostages within 72 hours, after which Israel will release 250 Palestinians serving long terms in Israeli prisons, as well as 1,700 others detained in Gaza during the war. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, claimed credit for the hostage release, saying in an address on Friday that the security of Israel was what dictated his actions in Gaza."
A ceasefire took effect and Israeli forces withdrew to an agreed redeployment line, allowing thousands of displaced Palestinians to begin returning from southern Gaza. The ceasefire activation marked the first stoppage of fighting since March and initiated a US-drafted plan to end the war. Under the plan, Hamas is expected to release 20 living Israeli hostages within 72 hours, after which Israel will free 250 long-term Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza. Israeli forces will initially maintain control of about 53% of Gaza while some troop pullbacks occur. Israeli officials issued return routes and area warnings.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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