The Israeli army officially announced that the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip entered into force at noon on Friday local time (9:00 GMT), after Israel and Hamas agreed to a truce and exchange of hostages under an initiative put forward by US President Donald Trump.
Repositioning and spreading
The Israeli army said in a statement, “The ceasefire agreement entered into force at 12:00,” adding that “since 12:00 (09:00 GMT), Israeli army forces began positioning themselves on their new deployment lines in preparation for the implementation of the armistice agreement and the return of the hostages.”
In turn, army spokesman, Avichay Adraee, confirmed that his forces were stationed, as of 12:00, in the updated readiness lines, according to the plan.
He stressed that the same forces are deployed in the region under the command of the South, and will continue to work to remove any immediate threat, according to his claim.
Urgent statement and warnings
He also issued an urgent statement that he claimed was to the residents of the Gaza Strip regarding the ceasefire. He claimed that it was a clarification that would avoid friction and misunderstanding. He said that, based on the agreement, the army forces would remain deployed in specific areas in the Gaza Strip, stressing that they should not be approached in the area until further notice.
He threatened that approaching the forces would expose him to danger.
He also added that movement from the south of the Gaza Strip to its north is allowed via Al-Rashid Road and Salah Al-Din Road.
He also warned in the northern Gaza Strip area against approaching the areas of Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, and Shujaiya, and said that they are extremely dangerous areas where forces are stationed.
As for the southern Gaza Strip area, he announced that it is very dangerous to approach the Rafah crossing area, the Philadelphia axis area, and all the forces’ concentration areas in Khan Yunis.
In the marine area along the Strip, he said that there is a great danger for fishing, swimming, and diving, warning against entering the sea in the coming days.
He also said that it is forbidden to approach the occupied Israeli territories and the buffer zone, which he said is extremely dangerous.
Then he added: “Be careful… for your safety, it is prohibited to start moving to these areas before issuing an official announcement in this regard.”
It is noteworthy that, despite the scheduled Israeli withdrawals, approximately 53% of the Gaza Strip will remain under Israeli control, provided that withdrawal from the rest of the areas will occur later in the second phase of the Trump plan up to the buffer line along the Strip, the area of which is estimated at 15% of the Palestinian Strip.
