TEL AVIV, October 10. /TASS/. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced that a ceasefire agreement on the Gaza Strip had come into effect.

"The ceasefire agreement came into effect at 12:00 (9 a.m. GMT - TASS)," the army press service said in a statement.

"Since 12:00, IDF troops began positioning themselves along the updated deployment lines in preparation for the ceasefire agreement and the return of hostages," the press service added. "IDF troops in the Southern Command are deployed in the area and will continue to remove any immediate threat," it noted.

Israel’s Channel 12 pointed out that, accordingly, a 72-hour countdown had started until the release of hostages held by the Palestinian movement Hamas in the embattled enclave.

In the early hours of October 10, the Israeli premier’s office announced that the government had ratified "a deal to release all hostages, both living and dead."

US President Donald Trump announced on October 9 that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement on the first phase of a peace plan following talks in Egypt. According to him, all hostages are expected to be freed soon, while Israeli troops will be withdrawn to an agreed-upon line.

Late on October 9, Israeli Government Spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian announced at a briefing that a ceasefire in Gaza would take effect within 24 hours of the government’s ratification of the agreements. Israeli troops will then be withdrawn from central Gaza to an agreed-upon line in the enclave. Israel will maintain control of 53% of Gaza’s territory, Bedrosian noted. According to her, after that, "a 72-hour window" will open for the Israeli hostages to be returned, which is expected to happen by October 13.