Preparations continue for the implementation of the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan regarding Gaza, as the 72-hour deadline for Hamas to hand over its prisoners approaches.

Whitcomb in Gaza

Meanwhile, US envoy Steve Whitcomb, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and US Central Command leader Admiral Brad Cooper visited an Israeli military base in the Gaza Strip to verify the completion of the withdrawal to the agreed “yellow line.”

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that “Zamir’s image was blurred for some reason in the exclusive photo published by Fox News from inside Gaza.”

“Committed to Peace”

The US Central Command leader confirmed after the visit that “our forces will not deploy inside the Gaza Strip,” announcing “progress in establishing the civil-military coordination center.”

He said the center “will support the post-war stabilization phase. US soldiers are committed to bringing peace to the Middle East.”

He concluded: “Our major effort will be achieved without a field presence of our forces in Gaza.”

Earlier, ABC reported that US forces have started arriving in Israel to begin their work supporting and supervising the ceasefire agreement.

Channel 12 cited a senior Israeli official saying that the US military task force will be stationed at the Hatzor Airbase near the city of Ashdod.

New Developments on Prisoners

Additionally, Channel 12 revealed the transfer of Palestinian security prisoners expected to be released to Ofer and Negev prisons.

The Broadcasting Corporation noted that Red Cross representatives will meet with the Palestinian prisoners.

Victims and Missing Persons

Coinciding with the ceasefire announcement, thousands of Palestinians began moving from the southern to the northern Gaza Strip, attempting to return from displacement areas.

Medical sources in Gaza announced on Saturday “the death toll from the occupation’s aggression on Gaza has risen to 67,682 martyrs and 170,033 injured since October 7, 2023.”

They clarified that 151 martyrs (116 recovered) and 72 injured arrived at Gaza hospitals in the past 24 hours, according to the Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA).

Hospitals in Gaza recorded 463 victims due to famine and malnutrition, including 157 children.

Rescue teams also reported that “9,500 citizens remain missing in Gaza after 735 days of the extermination war.”

Trump expressed confidence that the ceasefire in Gaza, which took effect Friday at 9:00 GMT, “will hold,” adding in remarks to White House reporters that everyone there is tired of fighting.

Trump is scheduled to travel to the Middle East at the end of this week, visiting Israel first to address the Knesset before moving to Egypt on Monday to meet “many leaders” to discuss Gaza’s future.

Like Lebanon!

Meanwhile, the Israeli Army Radio noted that “the establishment of the US command tasked with overseeing the Gaza ceasefire agreement is reminiscent of the step taken by the US in the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement when a US army command was established in Beirut headed by a general from Central Command (CENTCOM).”

It added: “In this way, the US also heads the mechanism monitoring the agreement’s implementation, dispatching soldiers and officers to follow and coordinate the movements of both parties. Regarding the Lebanese arena, Israel viewed this US role very positively.”

It concluded: “But this time, the US command will not be established inside Gaza territory but inside Israeli territory. Effectively, the US army is actively and essentially participating in stabilizing ceasefire agreements in two central war arenas, Gaza and Lebanon.”