Where things stand
• Ceasefire in effect: The Israeli military said a ceasefire is now in effect in Gaza, as its forces pull back in accordance with the deal approved by the government overnight.
• On the ground: Thousands of Palestinians have been seen walking from the south of Gaza toward Gaza City. An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson said troops would still be present in various areas of Gaza, warning people to avoid approaching them.
• Netanyahu remarks: In a televised address, the Israeli prime minister publicly implied for the first time that not all the deceased hostages held captive in Gaza may return.
• What’s next: The 72-hour period for the release of the hostages held by Hamas has now begun, and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israel will also be freed as part of the agreement. US President Donald Trump will visit Israel on Monday, according to police.
Israeli military says it is "well prepared" to go back to fighting if Hamas retains control of Gaza
The Israeli military is “well prepared to go back into combat” and fight Hamas if the militant group retains control of Gaza after the end of the war there, according to Effie Defrin, an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson.
The Hamas of today “isn’t (the) Hamas of two years ago,” Defrin said, adding that “Hamas has been defeated everywhere we fought it,” both “military and government-wise.”
The 20-point ceasefire plan agreed upon by Israel and Hamas outlines that a transitional government should rule Gaza until the Palestinian Authority completes its “reform program” and “can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza.”
If Hamas were somehow able to gain control of Gaza despite this part of the proposal, the Israeli military would have to take action, Defrin said.
“If this is achieved through negotiations, that would suffice. If not, we shall know how to go back and fight it whenever necessary,” he said.
The IDF is “well prepared to go back into combat, fight Hamas and defeat its government capabilities. They won’t go back to controlling the Gaza Strip,” he stressed.
Israel publishes list of 250 Palestinians serving life sentences to be released
Israel’s justice ministry has published the full list of 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences who are due to be released as part of the hostages-ceasefire agreement.
More than half of the prisoners will be deported to third countries, while 100 will be released to the occupied West Bank.
Here who is — and isn’t — included:
- The list does not include the most prominent Palestinian prisoner, Marwan Barghouti, imprisoned more than 20 years ago after being convicted of planning terror attacks. He denied the charges at the time.
- Two senior Hamas figures — Ibrahim Hamed and Hassan Salameh — are also absent from the list. However, Mahmoud Qawasmeh, a senior Hamas member arrested for the second time in 2024, is set to be released.
- Also among those included on the list is Muhammad Zakarneh, convicted of planning the killing of a taxi driver in 2009, and Muhammad Abu al-Rub, convicted of carrying out a fatal stabbing attack in 2017.
- Iyad Abu al-Rub, commander of Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Jenin area of the occupied West Bank, is also slated for release. He was accused of planning several suicide bombings in the early 2000s.
- Israel has also agreed to release Baher Bader, a Hamas member arrested in 2004 for planning attacks in which 18 Israelis were killed.
CNN’s Abeer Salman contributed to this report.
Hospital director: 33 bodies of Palestinians recovered following Israeli withdrawal from parts of Gaza City
The bodies of at least 33 Palestinians have been recovered from Gaza City today, Al-Shifa Hospital Director Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya told CNN, after the Israeli military withdrew from some areas of the city.
Some of the bodies were unable to be immediately identified, so they were sent to Al-Shifa as it is the only hospital in Gaza with a forensic medicine department, Salmiya said.
US presence expected near Gaza, "not boots on the ground," says political commentator
A former deputy Pentagon press secretary said she expects a United States military presence to assist with the transportation of humanitarian aid into Gaza, rather than on the ground in the enclave.
Sabrina Singh told CNN’s Audie Cornish that the promise of US military support was pivotal to finalizing the agreement made between Israel and Hamas to initiate the first phase in ending the war.
“One of the commitments that helped secure this ceasefire deal, and hopefully lead to a longer lasting peace, is the fact that there will be a US presence nearby, but not boots on the ground in Gaza,” she said.
Singh, now a CNN political commentator, explained how the US would help coordinate the operation to get aid into the enclave, parts of which are experiencing a “man-made” famine, according to a UN-backed initiative.
Singh said that there was no quick fix to rebuilding Gaza and creating a meaningful peace. “It’s going to take a lot of time. This is not weeks or months in the making, this is going to take years,” she said.
While Singh acknowledged that many questions remain unanswered regarding how the ceasefire deal advances, she said the developments provide reason to be hopeful. “We still don’t have answers, but we have steps towards progress, and that’s important,” she said.
Trump expected to visit Israel on Monday, according to Israel Police
US President Donald Trump is expected to visit Israel on Monday, Israel Police said in a statement outlining the security measures it will implement during the trip.
Thousands of police officers, Border Police personnel, and volunteers will be deployed while Trump visits the country, the police spokesperson’s unit said.
Roads will be closed and aircraft, including drones, will be forbidden from flying over Ben Gurion Airport and Jerusalem.
Trump said yesterday that he would “try and make a trip over” to the region to mark the release of the hostages held in Gaza, which he said would take place on Monday or Tuesday.
For the first time, Netanyahu implies that not all remains of deceased hostages may return
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly implied for the first time that not all the deceased hostages held captive in Gaza will return.
In a televised address, Netanyahu said that Israel will work to locate all of the dead hostages in Gaza “as soon as possible,” underscoring previous assessments that Hamas may not be able to find and return all of their remains.
CNN previously reported that the Israeli government has, for months, been aware that Hamas may not know the location of, or is unable to retrieve, the remains of some of the 28 remaining deceased hostages.
Forty-seven hostages who were kidnapped in the October 7, 2023, attacks are still in Gaza, with at least 20 believed to be alive. The remains of another hostage, Israel Defense Forces soldier Hadar Goldin, who was killed in 2014, have been held there since.
Saying that he fulfilled his promise to the families of the 48 hostages, Netanyahu said, “we would not give up on anyone.”
“And indeed, all the hostages will return to us. In the coming days, God willing, we will bring them all,” he said.
Remember: The ceasefire agreement outlines that a joint task force will be set up to try and find the dead hostages’ remains. That task force will include representation from Israel, the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, according to the agreement.
Israeli withdrawal in Gaza starts 72-hour clock for release of hostages
The withdrawal of Israeli troops to new lines in Gaza means that the 72-hour period for the release of hostages held by Hamas has now begun.
The Israel Defense Forces said the ceasefire agreement had come into effect at 12 p.m. local time.
Under the terms of the deal brokered by the US and other mediators, the redeployment means that over the next three days, and before the deadline of 12 p.m. local time on Monday, the hostages held by Hamas will be handed over, and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israel will be freed.
Israeli government publishes names of 250 Palestinian prisoners set for release as part of agreement
The Israeli Justice Ministry has published the names of 250 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails and set for release as part of the agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza.
We’ll bring you more information as we get it.
Netanyahu thanks Trump, Kushner and Witkoff for help securing ceasefire plan
We’ve just heard from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an address to his country.
He thanked US President Donald Trump, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and US special envoy Steve Witkoff for their help in securing the Gaza ceasefire plan that has gone into effect.
“I wish to thank President Trump for his global leadership and his relentless efforts to put together this plan to return the hostages. Once again, he proved his great friendship toward our people and country. I thank the representatives of President Trump, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who worked extensively to reach this hostage release deal,” Netanyahu said in a televised speech.
The ceasefire plan agreed upon was proposed by Trump last week. Kushner and Witkoff met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem yesterday, before his government met to vote on the plan, an Israeli official told CNN.
The pair also praised Netanyahu’s decisions during the war, saying his actions had pressured Hamas into striking a ceasefire deal.
As ceasefire in Gaza begins, thousands begin trek north to Gaza City
Palestinians have begun moving from the south of Gaza toward Gaza City after the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area.
Video shows thousands of people streaming north on foot along the coastal road.
Earlier, the Israeli military had fired at points along the road to prevent people from trying to return to Gaza City ahead of the withdrawal of Israeli troops to new lines inside Gaza, one element of the agreement brokered by the US and other mediators.
Last month, the Israel Defense Forces ordered the evacuation of Gaza City, which was estimated then to have a population of about one million people, as it began a new ground offensive.
As the ceasefire came into effect at 12 p.m. local time, according to the Israeli military, an IDF spokesman posted on X that “movement from the south to the north of the Gaza Strip is permitted via Al-Rashid Street and Salah al-Din Road.”
Hostages and Missing Families Forum says nobody has done more for global peace than Trump
Israel’s Hostages and Missing Families Forum said that “no leader or organization has done more for peace around the world than (US) President Donald J. Trump,” after this year’s Nobel Peace Prize was announced.
Trump had made it clear that he was hoping to receive the prestigious award, which today was given to María Corina Machado, a leader of Venezuela’s democracy movement.
The US leader’s Gaza ceasefire plan made his ambition appear more likely. A number of Israeli Nobel Prize winners pledged to support Trump’s bid for the award if he brought about an end to the war. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum had also urged the Nobel Committee to give the prize to Trump.
“President Trump’s unprecedented achievements in peacemaking this past year speak for themselves, and no award or lack thereof can diminish the profound impact he has had on our families and on global peace,” the forum said in a statement.
“His commitment to bringing every last hostage home and ending this war does not depend on awards or accolades. We will continue to stand with President Trump as he works to complete this mission, and history will record his achievements as the most significant contributions to world peace in our time,” it continued.
Israeli troops withdraw from parts of Gaza, after several strikes reported this morning
Israeli forces have withdrawn from parts of Gaza under the terms of the ceasefire deal approved by the Israeli government early this morning.
The Israel Defense Forces said today that the ceasefire agreement had come into effect at 12 p.m. local time Friday.
An IDF spokesman later added that troops would continue to be present in various areas of Gaza.
Addressing people in Gaza, spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post on X: “You must avoid approaching IDF troops. Approaching them endangers your life.”
In the south, Adraee said that it remained “extremely dangerous to approach” the Rafah Crossing area, the Philadelphi Corridor area, “and any concentration of troops in the Khan Yunis region.”
Earlier, the IDF posted video of troops gathering gear in the darkness and of convoys moving at dawn.
The redeployment means that a 72-hour period has now begun during which the hostages held by Hamas and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israel are released.
Videos and images obtained by CNN from the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood in the southwest of Gaza City showed that Israeli military vehicles had withdrawn amid the sound of persistent gunfire.
A geolocated image also showed they had withdrawn from the Netzarim corridor, which bisects central Gaza.
The Israeli troop movements were due to be completed within 24 hours of the Israeli government’s decision accepting the first phase of the US-brokered deal.
There were a number of explosions in Gaza Friday morning, according to geolocated video and witness testimony, in Jabalia, Gaza City and Khan Younis.
CNN has reached out to the IDF for comment.
Hostage families call on ceasefire negotiators to ensure remains are returned to Israel
Israel’s Hostages and Missing Families Forum has called on those involved in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations to ensure that the remains of all deceased hostages are returned to Israel.
Some 26 of the 48 hostages still held in Gaza are presumed dead. On Wednesday, three Israeli sources told CNN that the Israeli government has assessed that Hamas may not know the location of, or is unable to retrieve, the remains of some of the remaining deceased hostages.
“The headquarters call upon everyone involved in the agreement to ensure that returning all the deceased hostages for proper burial in Israel will be at the forefront of negotiations, and will be a condition for the full implementation of the side by all parties,” it said, adding that the current agreement does not go as far as it should to guarantee the return of the deceased.
Israeli military says ceasefire in effect as troops pull back in Gaza
The Israeli military said Friday that a ceasefire was now in effect in Gaza, as its forces pull back in accordance with the deal approved by the government overnight.
The Israel Defense Forces spokesperson added, however, that “troops will continue to be present in various areas of the Gaza Strip.”
Bodies recovered from rubble after Israeli troops withdraw from areas of Gaza City
The bodies of at least 19 Palestinians were recovered in Gaza City after the Israeli military appeared to withdraw from some areas of the city, Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, the director of Al-Shifa hospital, told CNN.
More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to the Health Ministry, which, along with the United Nations and multiple human rights organizations, estimates that the real death toll is likely to be thousands higher.
That is because it has not been possible to recover bodies from areas where the Israeli military was operating and because of the logistical difficulty in recovering bodies trapped under the rubble.
Red Cross prepared to help implement Gaza agreement for hostage and prisoner release
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said its teams in Israel and Gaza are prepared to support the implementation of the Gaza agreement for a ceasefire.
Red Cross teams in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank are ready to assist with the expected release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners in the coming days, Spoljaric said.
“We are also ready to help return human remains so families can mourn their loved ones with dignity,” she said.
The Red Cross has played a crucial role in the transfer of hostages released from Gaza.
No words for "morally unjustifiable" suffering in Gaza, cardinal says
The top Catholic in Jerusalem said he would never have the words to express the level of suffering experienced in Gaza during Israel’s war.
“I don’t have the words… All the words cannot represent what has been for the population of Gaza in this period,” Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa told CNN’s Erin Burnett.
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem condemned the loss of life in the war. “The horror of the deaths, it’s a crime. A horrific crime. Unacceptable. Morally unjustifiable.”
The cardinal also drew attention to the challenges faced by Palestinians in the years after a ceasefire has been implemented.
He cited the urgent need to rebuild hospitals and provide water, and raised concerns over the long-term impact on children.
Palestinians optimistic but wary, UNICEF says
A UNICEF spokesperson in Gaza has told CNN of the tentative hope experienced by Palestinians.
Tess Ingram said news of the ceasefire agreement initially sparked celebration, but it soon faded.
Ingram said there is optimism in the enclave, but it’s not without caution.
“While they’re cautiously optimistic… they are of course wary about whether this will fully come into place and whether it will be sustained.”
Referencing reports of strikes in Khan Younis and Gaza City this morning, Ingram said:
Ingram said she hopes Israel’s near-blockade of aid will end soon, and her organization can scale up its efforts to ensure the over 1,300 trucks that UNICEF has ready to enter Gaza can deliver essentials, including medicine to food.
“Nutrition is at the very top of our list. A famine has been confirmed in Gaza City,” Ingram said, adding that repairing water systems, providing shelter, and offering mental health kits were also priorities for the humanitarian organization.
Palestinians welcome news of ceasefire approval, but hope fighting will end soon
Palestinians in central Gaza told reporters how they felt after receiving the news that Israel approved a ceasefire plan that could lead to an end to the war in the enclave.
“When we heard the news of the truce, we were very happy, thinking we would return to our homes, rebuild, go back to our schools, and feel reassured and live in peace,” displaced Gaza resident Alaa Al-Madhoun told Reuters today.
Another displaced Palestinian, Mahmoud Al-Sharif, told Reuters that, after more than two years of conflict, he was “happy” at the news of the ceasefire.
Mahdi Saqla, another displaced man, also told Reuters he wants to return home now that the ceasefire has been announced, despite the fact that he knows his home will be nothing but rubble.
Who are the hostages still held in Gaza?
All the hostages in Gaza are expected to be released either Monday or Tuesday under the first phase of a ceasefire plan agreed by Hamas and Israel, according to US President Donald Trump.
More than two years after Hamas and its allies kidnapped 251 people from Israel and took them to Gaza, 47 hostages remain in the enclave, with at least 20 believed to be alive.
The remains of another hostage, Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin, have been held there since 2014, when he was killed and his body taken to the strip.
