Israel has reportedly begun withdrawing from the Gaza Strip, marking its first visible troop movements since the government approved a ceasefire deal.

Gaza's civil defense agency told AFP on Friday that Israeli forces had begun pulling out of parts of the territory, including Gaza City and Khan Yunis.

The withdrawal comes after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first stage of US President Donald Trump’s proposed ceasefire framework, which the Israeli cabinet approved earlier Friday.

Under the agreement, Israel must withdraw from designated zones within 24 hours, paving the way for a 72-hour period during which Hamas will release around 20 surviving hostages.

The remains of deceased hostages are to be transferred back to Israel in later phases of the accord.

The troop pullback signals an initial step toward what Trump described as a “strong, durable, and everlasting peace”—a process mediators from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey are now watching closely.