Guns fall silent as Gazans flood back home… Israeli military pulls back troops as 72-hour countdown for hostage release begins
At noon today, the guns fell silent in Gaza and a humanitarian wave of Palestinians returned to their homes.
After two years of almost continuous bloodshed, a seemingly endless chain of refugees marched across the razed Strip.
But in scenes that will disturb the families of Hamas’ Israeli victims, the terrorist group’s armed guards were seen patrolling the ruined streets.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) completed the partial withdrawal as agreed, allowing the terrorists to exit the tunnels.
He set a 72-hour timer for the return of all 48 Israeli hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be still alive, as agreed under Donald Trump’s peace plan, and timed out their arrival on Monday.
Last night it was reported on local news that they would be released on Sunday.
The US President is expected to give a historic speech to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in Jerusalem and meet with those released before traveling to Egypt for a summit with world leaders on Gaza.
Meanwhile, son-in-law Jared Kushner, one of the architects of the peace plan, visited the Western Wall today with his wife Ivanka.
The Israeli military said the ceasefire agreement with Hamas came into force at noon local time (BST) on October 10 and troops were withdrawn to agreed deployment lines. Picture: Palestinians who were expelled to the south of Gaza by Israel’s order during the war return to Gaza city
The deal leaves a power vacuum and raises urgent questions about who will rule Gaza once the fighting ends. Picture: Israeli tanks arrive at a staging area after withdrawing from the Gaza Strip
US President Donald Trump (pictured) is expected to make a historic speech at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in Jerusalem
They placed their hands on the holy site before Mr. Kushner told reporters: ‘There will be peace and many lives will be saved.’
Announcing the ceasefire coming into force, IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin broke down, calling it ‘an emotional moment for the Israeli people’.
Nearly 1,000 Israeli soldiers were killed and more than 60,000 Palestinians (both civilians and terrorists) were killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Brigadier General Defrin said it was equally emotional “for the IDF units and soldiers who have fought and acted with courage, bravery, a sense of mission and commitment over the past two years.”
But Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a fiery speech highlighting the challenges of achieving peace, warned that the IDF would unleash its full force if Hamas refused to disarm.
‘Hamas agreed to the deal only when it felt that the sword was and still is on its neck,’ he said.
‘Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be disarmed. It would be much better if this could be achieved in an easy way.
‘And if not, it will be achieved the hard way.’
Palestinians walk through the ruins of a neighborhood in Gaza City following an Israeli operation after the Israeli government approved a ceasefire with Hamas October 10
Some Palestinians walk along Rashid Street carrying the few belongings they managed to salvage, hoping to return home after enduring months of harsh living conditions in Gaza City
He also rejected claims that the same deal had been on the table for a year, saying: ‘Hamas never agreed to release all our hostages while we remained deep in the Strip.’
The IDF currently controls 53 percent of Gaza, as approximately 200 American soldiers from U.S. Central Command were sent to Israel to oversee the transition of power.
No American boats will land in the Strip, but they will coordinate and assist in bringing humanitarian aid and international peacekeeping forces from Arab and Muslim countries.
Israel’s British Chargé d’Affaires, Daniela Grudsky Ekstein, told the Daily Mail last night that Hamas should ‘lay down its weapons and be completely disarmed’ once the hostages are out.
“It’s very important that other countries put pressure on terrorists to do this,” Ms. Ekstein said.
‘For example, Qatar and Egypt, as well as Britain, should do all they can to persuade Hamas leaders to comply with the agreement.’
Following the disarmament of Hamas, a Peace Board will be created to oversee the transition, but its inclusion of former British prime minister Sir Tony Blair has drawn the ire of Palestinians over his involvement in the Iraq War.
