Israel: Ceasefire Takes Effect in Gaza 10/10 06:09

   A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect in Gaza on Friday, the 
Israeli military said, hours after Israel's Cabinet approved a deal to pause 
the fighting and exchange the remaining hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

   TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) -- A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into 
effect in Gaza on Friday, the Israeli military said, hours after Israel's 
Cabinet approved a deal to pause the fighting and exchange the remaining 
hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

   Tens of thousands of people who had gathered in Wadi Gaza in central Gaza in 
the morning started walking north after the military's announcement at noon 
local time. Beforehand, Palestinians reported heavy shelling in parts of Gaza 
throughout Friday morning, but no significant bombardment was reported after.

   The ceasefire marks a key step toward ending a ruinous two-year war that has 
killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, reduced much of Gaza to rubble, 
destabilized the Middle East, and left dozens of hostages, living and dead, in 
the territory. Still, the broader plan advanced by U.S. President Donald Trump 
includes many unanswered questions, such as whether and how Hamas will disarm 
and who will govern Gaza.

   A brief statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office 
early Friday said the Cabinet approved the "outline" of a deal to release the 
hostages, without mentioning other aspects of the plan that are more 
controversial.

   Israeli troops have begun to withdraw to agreed-upon deployment lines, the 
military said. An Israeli security official, speaking on condition of anonymity 
due to the sensitivity of the withdrawal, said the military would control 
around 50% of Gaza in their new positions.

   Shelling continued early Friday

   In central Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp, Mahmoud Sharkawy, one of the many 
people sheltering there after being displaced from Gaza City, said artillery 
shelling intensified in the early hours of Friday before the military's 
announcement.

   "The shelling has significantly increased today," said Sharkawy, adding that 
low flying military aircraft had been flying over central Gaza.

   Residents of Gaza City in the north also reported shelling in the early 
hours.

   "It is confusing, we have been hearing shelling all night despite the 
ceasefire news," said Heba Garoun, who fled her home in eastern Gaza City to 
another neighborhood after her house was destroyed.

   Details of the deal

   A senior Hamas official and lead negotiator made a speech Thursday laying 
out what he said were the core elements of the ceasefire deal: Israel releasing 
around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, opening the border crossing with Egypt, 
allowing aid to flow and Israeli forces withdrawing.

   Khalil al-Hayya said all women and children held in Israeli jails will also 
be freed. He did not offer details on the extent of the Israeli withdrawal from 
Gaza.

   A list published Friday by Israel of Palestinian prisoners to be released as 
part of a the deal does not include high-profile prisoner Marwan Barghouti, the 
most popular Palestinian leader and a potentially unifying figure. Israel views 
and some others others as terrorist masterminds who murdered Israeli civilians 
and has refused to release them in past exchanges.

   Al-Hayya said the Trump administration and mediators had given assurances 
that the war is over, and that Hamas and other Palestinian factions will now 
focus on achieving self-determination and establishing a Palestinian state.

   "We declare today that we have reached an agreement to end the war and the 
aggression against our people," Al-Hayya said in a televised speech Thursday 
evening.

   To help support and monitor the ceasefire deal, U.S. officials said they 
would send about 200 troops to Israel as part of a broader, international team. 
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not authorized 
for release.