Live updates: Gaza ceasefire in effect, Israel says, as hostage release countdown begins

The Israeli Ministry of Justice launched on Friday a listing of 250 Palestinian prisoners anticipated to be launched as a part of the primary section of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage launch deal.

Beneath the phrases of the deal, Palestinian prisoners are solely anticipated to go free after a 72-hour interval, by the tip of which all remaining Israeli hostages, residing and lifeless, are to be launched. That 72-hour interval ends on Monday afternoon in Israel.

An Israeli official instructed CBS News on Friday that Hamas would launch all of the remaining hostages by midday native time on Monday, which might be 5 a.m. Jap.

The Rafah crossing from southern Gaza into Egypt will reopen on Tuesday in coordination with European Union authorities and the White Home, the Italian Protection Ministry mentioned in a press release Tuesday.

“The Rafah crossing, on October 14, 2025, in compliance with the Trump settlement, in coordination between the European Union and the events, can be opened alternately in two instructions: exit in the direction of Egypt and entry in the direction of Gaza,” Italian Protection Minister Guido Crosetto mentioned within the assertion.

Crosetto additionally mentioned that operations for the discharge of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners would start Sunday.

The EU Border Help Mission at Rafah — a civilian mission that gives a impartial third occasion presence on the Gaza-Egypt border —  can be current to observe the border’s reopening, the protection minister mentioned.

CBS News’ workforce in Gaza reported Friday that displaced Gazans had begun returning to northern components of the war-torn enclave, because the Israeli navy partially withdrew its forces in step with the ceasefire settlement.

Displaced Palestinians had been seen touring up Al Rasheed highway, the primary artery alongside Gaza’s Mediterranean coast.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing full-scale destruction in Gaza Metropolis, the place Israeli forces had been conducting floor operations proper up till Friday morning when the ceasefire took impact.

Witnesses instructed CBS News that in depth harm was seen in neighborhoods throughout Gaza Metropolis, and in Al-Shati Refugee Camp on town’s western facet.

Worldwide Crimson Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric mentioned Friday that the return of hostages and Palestinian prisoners should be carried out “safely and with dignity”

“ICRC groups in Israel, Gaza and the West Financial institution will assist its implementation by serving to to return hostages and detainees to their households. We’re additionally prepared to assist return human stays so households can mourn their family members with dignity,” Spoljaric mentioned. “The ceasefire should maintain. Lives rely on it.”

An Arab diplomat and a supply accustomed to the negotiations instructed The Instances of Israel newspaper that Hamas had agreed throughout talks in Egypt to not maintain public ceremonies throughout the handover of hostages to Israel, because it had executed throughout earlier releases.

Gal Hirsch, the Hostage and Lacking Individuals Coordinator for the Israeli Prime Minister’s Workplace, instructed CBS News on Thursday that a global workforce can be established to find lacking hostages “within the coming days.”

Hamas had mentioned in a press release final week that it had agreed to the discharge of all Israeli hostages — residing and lifeless — offered “that applicable area situations are ensured for the alternate course of.”

Israeli officers have mentioned it’s believed that solely 20 of the 48 remaining hostages in Gaza are nonetheless alive.

President Trump’s senior envoy Steve Witkoff said Friday in a social media put up that the U.S. navy’s Central Command had “confirmed that the Israeli Protection Forces accomplished the primary section withdrawal to the yellow line at 12PM native time,” including that the “72 hour interval” for Hamas to launch all remaining Israeli hostages “has begun.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned Friday that Israel is “tightening the noose round Hamas from all sides,” and vowed that Gaza can be demilitarized following the Israeli authorities’s approval of a peace plan to finish the warfare.

“Hamas will disarm and Gaza can be demilitarized. If this may be achieved the simple manner, all the higher; if not, it will likely be achieved the arduous manner,” Netanyahu mentioned, addressing reporters.

The Israeli chief defended his report in prosecuting the warfare in Gaza, which has killed over 67,000 Palestinians, in line with Hamas-run Gaza well being authorities.

“Anybody who claims that this hostage deal was all the time on the desk is solely not telling the reality. Hamas by no means agreed to launch all of the hostages whereas we remained deep contained in the Strip. It agreed solely when the sword was on its neck, and that sword continues to be there,” Netanyahu mentioned.

An Israeli safety supply instructed CBS News on Friday that 600 vans carrying humanitarian support had been set to enter Gaza within the coming days because the ceasefire takes maintain.

The vans can be from United Nations companies, in addition to different authorized worldwide organizations, the non-public sector and donor nations, the safety supply mentioned.

The help will primarily include “meals, medical gear, shelter gear, in addition to gas to function important methods and cooking fuel.”

“Residents can be allowed to go away via the Rafah Crossing in coordination with Egypt, after safety approval by Israel and below the supervision” of a European Union delegation,” the supply instructed CBS News.

A spokesperson for the U.N. workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs instructed CBS News Friday that an expanded circulation of support had not but been allowed into the war-torn Palestinian enclave. UNRWA, the U.N. company for Palestinian refugees, additionally mentioned there had been no improve within the circulation of support into Gaza early on Friday.

Giant plumes of smoke billowed into the skies above Gaza on Friday morning, and CBS News’ Debora Patta mentioned Israeli bombs continued to fall on the Palestinian territory proper up till the ultimate hours earlier than the navy mentioned the ceasefire had taken impact.

Israeli officers had mentioned on Thursday that the ceasefire would take impact instantly upon the federal government’s approval of the deal, which got here late Thursday night, however the explosions continued for hours after that.

An Israeli navy spokesperson mentioned in an Arabic language assertion directed at residents of Gaza on Friday that the “Israel Protection Forces (IDF) will stay stationed in designated areas throughout the Gaza Strip.”

“Don’t method IDF forces in these areas till additional discover. Approaching these forces places you at critical threat,” the spokesperson mentioned.

An Israeli official instructed CBS News that Hamas would launch all excellent hostages by midday native time on Monday, which might be 5 a.m. Jap.

President Trump mentioned Thursday that the entire remaining Israeli hostages, together with the our bodies of deceased hostages held in Gaza, would probably be launched “Monday or Tuesday” as a part of the peace deal.

Israeli officers imagine there are nonetheless 48 folks held captive in Gaza, 20 of whom are regarded as alive.

The Israeli navy mentioned Friday {that a} ceasefire in Gaza got here into impact at midday native time (5 a.m. Jap)  and that Israeli troops had begun withdrawing from components of Gaza as a part of the primary section of President Trump’s 20-point peace plan to finish the two-year warfare and produce residence the remaining Israeli hostages.

“Since 12:00, IDF troops started positioning themselves alongside the up to date deployment traces in preparation for the ceasefire settlement and the return of hostages,” the Israel Protection Forces mentioned in a press release Friday.

A spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace instructed CBS News’ companion community BBC News that Israeli troops would withdraw to a line leaving them accountable for 53% of Gaza within the first section of the plan.

President Trump had mentioned Wednesday on his Fact Social platform that Israel “will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line” as step one in the direction of his 20 level peace proposal to finish the warfare in Gaza.