The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Hamas terror organization in the Gaza Strip. After Hamas agreed to the first phase of the agreement, the IDF began conducting a situational assessment and initial preparations.
According to a statement, Chief of the General Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir instructed all units, both at the front and in rear areas, to “prepare strong defenses and be ready for any possible scenario.” The ceasefire does not mark an endpoint but merely the beginning of a complex process: the IDF will continue to be deployed “in accordance with the directives of the political leadership and the individual phases of the agreement”—always with responsibility and a focus on the safety its soldiers.
In parallel, “operational preparations” are already underway to enable an orderly transition to new operational lines. Officials stress that forces will remain deployed and ready for action. A central focus is the preparation for the release and repatriation of the hostages, which will be carried out with “sensitivity and professionalism,” according to the announcement. At the same time, the IDF notes that the war’s objectives—particularly the protection of the Israeli population—will continue to be pursued even under a ceasefire.
US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of his peace plan. According to the plan, a partial troop withdrawal is to begin within 24 hours, and the hostages are to be released within 72 hours of the agreement’s signing. Forty-eight hostages are still being held in Gaza, with approximately 20 believed to be alive. “With God’s help, we will bring them all home,” stated the Prime Minister’s Office.
The official signing of the agreement is scheduled to take place on Thursday afternoon in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
In parallel, the IDF issued a stern warning to Gaza residents not to return to certain areas without explicit clearance. In particular, the northern Gaza Strip and large parts of Gaza City remain designated as “dangerous combat zones.”
Thus, the ceasefire is seen less as a conclusion and more as a transition to a new phase. Israel maintains its military readiness with the declared goal of protecting the country’s citizens and finally bringing the hostages home.
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