The US president stated that a ceasefire would take effect immediately, pending confirmation from Hamas.
US President Donald Trump announced that Israel has consented to pull its forces back to the positions they occupied prior to initiating the significant offensive on Gaza City last month. Should this be enacted, this concession would form part of a proposed agreement with Hamas, facilitating the liberation of all remaining Israeli captives.
“Upon Hamas’s confirmation, the Ceasefire will become IMMEDIATELY active, the Hostage and Prisoner Exchange will commence, and we will establish the foundations for the subsequent stage of withdrawal, moving us nearer to the conclusion of this 3,000 YEAR TRAGEDY. We appreciate your focus on this issue, and, STAY TUNED!” Trump posted on his Truth Social account Saturday.
The map unveiled by Trump depicts the initial pull-back boundary, which generally aligns with the Israeli army’s controlled territory before the Gaza City operation. As reported by the Times of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) held approximately 70% of Gaza’s landmass then.
Previously, the IDF stated it would restrict its actions to “defensive maneuvers,” following tentative agreement by both Israel and Hamas to Trump’s proposal for a prisoner exchange.
During a televised address Saturday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conveyed his optimism for the return of the captives within the next few days, even as the IDF maintains its presence in the Gaza Strip.