The Israeli government announced that a ceasefire in Gaza will commence 24 hours after two cabinet and government meetings conclude on Thursday, October 9th, 2025, following Saudi Arabia's welcome of the agreement and the initial phase of President Donald Trump's peace proposal. The Saudi Foreign Ministry praised Trump's role and the mediation efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, expressing hope for an eased humanitarian crisis, Israel's full withdrawal, and a two-state solution. Israeli prisons have not yet received the names of individuals scheduled for release as part of the deal, according to Al-Arabiya Breaking on October 9th. The previous report indicated that Israeli army units were preparing for withdrawal from Gaza and that the Prison Service was awaiting a list of security prisoners for release, with operational readiness emphasized for staff. Marine boats were also reported approaching the shore west of Nuseirat. Saudi Arabia hopes the agreement will lead to Israel's full withdrawal from Gaza, restore stability, and pave the way for a two-state solution with an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital, aligning with UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. This comes as Israel commenced a gradual withdrawal from parts of the Gaza Strip on Thursday morning, October 9th, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the approval of the first phase of a hostage-release deal. Logistical units began pulling back from the Gaza City area, with combat troops expected to follow, according to ynetnews.com. The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas officially took effect on October 9th, 2025, at 11:05 AM UTC. This development followed reports of Israeli tanks deploying on the Rashid coastal road, allegedly blocking Palestinians from returning to Gaza City and the northern Strip, with footage showing tanks shelling near crowds. The IDF had previously warned that returning to Gaza City was "extremely dangerous," as stated in previous reports. Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire are expected to commence one day after hostages are released. Egypt has informed U.S. diplomats that it will not permit Israel to maintain a permanent presence along the Gaza-Egypt border, while Israel insists on holding its positions in the Philadelphi Corridor to prevent weapons smuggling, according to sources speaking to Qatar’s Al-Araby channel. The International Court of Justice is scheduled to issue an advisory opinion on Israel's obligations on October 22nd, 2025. Hamas spokesman Khasa Qasem was noted in a performance on Al-Jazeera prior to October 7th and again today. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the agreement and commended mediator efforts, with France ready to contribute to a political solution based on a two-state solution, with discussions planned for this afternoon in Paris.
