The Gaza Strip is experiencing a cautious calm in areas from which the Israeli occupation army withdrew on Friday morning, following the announcement of an agreement to end the war on Gaza and exchange prisoners. Hamas announced receiving written American guarantees for a complete ceasefire during negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh.

The Israeli army welcomed the agreement signed between Hamas and Israel in Sharm El-Sheikh, confirming it has begun withdrawing from several areas to implement the agreement, including redeploying forces over 53% of Gaza’s territory.

The agreement stipulates the release of about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, including approximately 1,700 arrested during the war, and 250 life-sentence prisoners, excluding Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Secretary-General Ahmed Saadat, with ongoing negotiations over prisoner names.

According to the agreement, Israel allows the entry of 600 trucks carrying humanitarian, food, and medical aid from the United Nations, approved international organizations, and the private sector, including supplies, tents, cooking gas, and fuel, with free movement from southern to northern Gaza via Salah al-Din and Al-Rashid streets.

The Israeli government officially approved the ceasefire agreement and prisoner exchange deal after a “knesset” session and meetings between US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The ceasefire took effect immediately, with the Israeli army expected to begin its initial gradual withdrawal within 24 hours, followed by prisoner exchange within 72 hours.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s office announced government approval to release all living prisoners and bodies of the dead from Gaza, despite opposition from ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich and their party members.

A senior US official said the US Central Command will send 200 soldiers to Israel to monitor and supervise ceasefire implementation, while another US official stated there are no plans to send US troops to Gaza.

On Thursday evening, Hamas leader in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, announced reaching an agreement to end the war and begin implementing a permanent ceasefire, confirming receipt of guarantees confirming the war’s complete end.

Al-Hayya emphasized that Hamas provided a response that serves the Palestinian people’s interests and rights, including its vision to stop the war, adding that they prioritized their people’s welfare and bloodshed during negotiations.

He explained that 250 life-sentence prisoners and 1,700 prisoners from Gaza arrested after October 7, as well as all children and women prisoners, will be released.

Al-Hayya confirmed that Hamas received guarantees from mediators and the US administration, all affirming the war’s complete end. He noted Hamas will continue working with national and Islamic forces to complete remaining steps, achieve the Palestinian people’s interests, self-determination, and rights until establishing an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Trump’s 20-point plan, alongside the ceasefire and hostage release, proposed Gaza’s affairs be managed by a Palestinian technocratic committee supervised by a “Peace Council” chaired by Trump and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, excluding Hamas from governance.

In this context, Hamas leader Osama Hamdan announced Thursday the movement’s rejection of Donald Trump’s proposal to form a “Peace Council” temporarily overseeing Gaza’s administration.

Meanwhile, Egypt will host a comprehensive national meeting of Palestinian factions in the coming days to discuss key issues including national reconciliation, ending division, and the future of the Palestinian cause in Gaza and the West Bank, with participation from all major factions including Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front.