Image Credit: MENAHEM KAHANA / Contributor / Getty Images 
Israel has now completed the first phase of its scheduled withdrawal from Gaza as part of the new ceasefire deal to end the war.
The Israeli Defense Forces have retreated to a line agreed between Israel and Hamas after representatives of both sides met in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh.
Israel still controls 53% of the Gaza Strip.
The conclusion of the withdrawal begins a 72-hour period in which all remaining hostages, alive and dead, must be released by Hamas.
“With the ceasefire coming into effect today, after more than two years of intense operations in Gaza, the IDF is finally preparing to receive the remaining 48 hostages,” the military said in a post on X.
“This is an emotional moment for the people of Israel and for the troops of the IDF who fought and acted, over the past two years with courage, bravery, and dedication.”
The first phase of the ceasefire deal was agreed by Israel’s cabinet on Thursday.
“We are at a tremendous development. We fought during these last two years to achieve our war aims and central to one of these war aims is to return the hostages—all of the hostages, the living and the dead. And we’re about to achieve that goal,” Netanyahu said at the cabinet meeting.
“We couldn’t have achieved it without the extraordinary help of President Trump and his team, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner.”
In exchange for the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas, Israel will release more than 2,000 prisoners, 250 of whom are currently serving life sentences.
President Trump announced the ceasefire deal on Wednesday.
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”
President Trump is due to travel to the Middle East on Sunday, where he will discuss details of the Gaza peace plan with regional leaders. He will also be the first US president since George W. Bush to address Israel’s parliament.
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