If confirmed by Hamas, the ceasefire will go into effect immediately, the US president has said

Israeli tanks near the border with the Gaza Strip on September 17, 2025. ©  Amir Levy / Getty Images

US President Donald Trump has said that Israel has agreed to withdraw its army to the line it held before launching a major offensive on Gaza City last month.

If implemented, the concession would be part of a proposed deal with Hamas that would see the release of all remaining Israeli hostages.

“When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, which will bring us close to the end of this 3,000 YEAR CATASTROPHE. Thank you for your attention to this matter and, STAY TUNED!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Saturday.

The map released by Trump shows the initial withdrawal line, which roughly corresponds to the Israeli army’s line of control prior to the Gaza City offensive. According to the Times of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) controlled around 70% of the enclave at the time.

 

The IDF said earlier that it would limit its activities to “defensive operations,” as both Israel and Hamas have tentatively agreed to Trump’s plan to conduct a prisoner swap.

In a televised address on Saturday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed hope that the hostages would be returned in the coming days, while the IDF remains in Gaza. 

Gaza measures 365 square kilometers (141 square miles), about the size of Detroit, Michigan, and was home to over 2 million people before the war.