Gaza ceasefire in impact, Israel says, as hostage launch countdown begins

The Israeli Ministry of Justice launched on Friday an inventory of 250 Palestinian prisoners anticipated to be launched as a part of the primary part of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage launch deal.

Underneath the phrases of the deal, Palestinian prisoners are solely anticipated to go free after a 72-hour interval, by the top of which all remaining Israeli hostages, dwelling and lifeless, are to be launched. That 72-hour interval ends on Monday afternoon in Israel. 

An Israeli official instructed CBS Information on Friday that Hamas would launch all of the remaining hostages by midday native time on Monday, which might be 5 a.m. Jap. 

The Rafah crossing from southern Gaza into Egypt will reopen on Tuesday in coordination with European Union authorities and the White Home, the Italian Protection Ministry stated in an announcement Tuesday. 

“The Rafah crossing, on October 14, 2025, in compliance with the Trump settlement, in coordination between the European Union and the events, will probably be opened alternately in two instructions: exit in direction of Egypt and entry in direction of Gaza,” Italian Protection Minister Guido Crosetto stated within the assertion. 

Crosetto additionally stated that operations for the discharge of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners would start Sunday. 

The EU Border Help Mission at Rafah — a civilian mission that gives a impartial third get together presence on the Gaza-Egypt border —  will probably be current to watch the border’s reopening, the protection minister stated.

CBS Information’ workforce in Gaza reported Friday that displaced Gazans had begun returning to northern elements of the war-torn enclave, because the Israeli navy partially withdrew its forces consistent with the ceasefire settlement. 

Displaced Palestinians have been seen touring up Al Rasheed street, the principle artery alongside Gaza’s Mediterranean coast. 

Eyewitnesses reported seeing full-scale destruction in Gaza Metropolis, the place Israeli forces had been conducting floor operations proper up till Friday morning when the ceasefire took impact. 

Witnesses instructed CBS Information that in depth injury was seen in neighborhoods throughout Gaza Metropolis, and in Al-Shati Refugee Camp on the town’s western facet.

Worldwide Pink Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric stated Friday that the return of hostages and Palestinian prisoners should be carried out “safely and with dignity” 

“ICRC groups in Israel, Gaza and the West Financial institution will assist its implementation by serving to to return hostages and detainees to their households. We’re additionally prepared to assist return human stays so households can mourn their family members with dignity,” Spoljaric stated. “The ceasefire should maintain. Lives depend upon it.” 

An Arab diplomat and a supply aware of the negotiations instructed The Occasions of Israel newspaper that Hamas had agreed throughout talks in Egypt to not maintain public ceremonies through the handover of hostages to Israel, because it had carried out throughout earlier releases.

Gal Hirsch, the Hostage and Lacking Individuals Coordinator for the Israeli Prime Minister’s Workplace, instructed CBS Information on Thursday that a global workforce can be established to find lacking hostages “within the coming days.” 

Hamas had stated in an announcement final week that it had agreed to the discharge of all Israeli hostages — dwelling and lifeless — supplied “that acceptable area circumstances are ensured for the trade course of.”

Israeli officers have stated it’s believed that solely 20 of the 48 remaining hostages in Gaza are nonetheless alive. 

President Trump’s senior envoy Steve Witkoff stated Friday in a social media put up that the U.S. navy’s Central Command had “confirmed that the Israeli Protection Forces accomplished the primary part withdrawal to the yellow line at 12PM native time,” including that the “72 hour interval” for Hamas to launch all remaining Israeli hostages “has begun.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Friday that Israel is “tightening the noose round Hamas from all sides,” and vowed that Gaza can be demilitarized following the Israeli authorities’s approval of a peace plan to finish the battle. 

“Hamas will disarm and Gaza will probably be demilitarized. If this may be achieved the straightforward approach, all the higher; if not, it is going to be achieved the onerous approach,” Netanyahu stated, addressing reporters. 

The Israeli chief defended his report in prosecuting the battle in Gaza, which has killed over 67,000 Palestinians, in line with Hamas-run Gaza well being authorities. 

“Anybody who claims that this hostage deal was at all times on the desk is just not telling the reality. Hamas by no means agreed to launch all of the hostages whereas we remained deep contained in the Strip. It agreed solely when the sword was on its neck, and that sword remains to be there,” Netanyahu stated. 

An Israeli safety supply instructed CBS Information on Friday that 600 vans carrying humanitarian support have been set to enter Gaza within the coming days because the ceasefire takes maintain.

The vans will probably be from United Nations companies, in addition to different accepted worldwide organizations, the non-public sector and donor nations, the safety supply stated. 

The help will primarily encompass “meals, medical tools, shelter tools, in addition to gasoline to function important methods and cooking gasoline.”

“Residents will probably be allowed to go away by way of the Rafah Crossing in coordination with Egypt, after safety approval by Israel and underneath the supervision” of a European Union delegation,” the supply instructed CBS Information. 

A spokesperson for the U.N. workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs instructed CBS Information Friday that an expanded circulate of support had not but been allowed into the war-torn Palestinian enclave. UNRWA, the U.N. company for Palestinian refugees, additionally stated there had been no improve within the circulate of support into Gaza early on Friday.

Giant plumes of smoke billowed into the skies above Gaza on Friday morning, and CBS Information’ Debora Patta stated Israeli bombs continued to fall on the Palestinian territory proper up till the ultimate hours earlier than the navy stated the ceasefire had taken impact.

Israeli officers had stated on Thursday that the ceasefire would take impact instantly upon the federal government’s approval of the deal, which got here late Thursday night, however the explosions continued for hours after that.

An Israeli navy spokesperson stated in an Arabic language assertion directed at residents of Gaza on Friday that the “Israel Protection Forces (IDF) will stay stationed in designated areas throughout the Gaza Strip.”

“Don’t method IDF forces in these areas till additional discover. Approaching these forces places you at critical threat,” the spokesperson stated. 

An Israeli official instructed CBS Information that Hamas would launch all excellent hostages by midday native time on Monday, which might be 5 a.m. Jap. 

President Trump stated Thursday that the entire remaining Israeli hostages, together with the our bodies of deceased hostages held in Gaza, would possible be launched “Monday or Tuesday” as a part of the peace deal. 

Israeli officers consider there are nonetheless 48 individuals held captive in Gaza, 20 of whom are considered alive.

The Israeli navy stated Friday {that a} ceasefire in Gaza got here into impact at midday native time (5 a.m. Jap)  and that Israeli troops had begun withdrawing from elements of Gaza as a part of the primary part of President Trump’s 20-point peace plan to finish the two-year battle and convey dwelling the remaining Israeli hostages.

“Since 12:00, IDF troops started positioning themselves alongside the up to date deployment strains in preparation for the ceasefire settlement and the return of hostages,” the Israel Protection Forces stated in an announcement Friday.

A spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace instructed CBS Information’ companion community BBC Information that Israeli troops would withdraw to a line leaving them accountable for 53% of Gaza within the first part of the plan. 

President Trump had stated Wednesday on his Fact Social platform that Israel “will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line” as step one in direction of his 20 level peace proposal to finish the battle in Gaza.