The Israeli military says it has partially withdrawn troops from parts of Gaza after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas came into effect on Friday morning.

Israeli forces stated they pulled back to an agreed position within the territory, while still occupying half of the Strip.

Footage shows thousands of Palestinians making their way to the north of Gaza, heavily bombarded in recent months.

The ceasefire commenced after the Israeli government approved the first phase of a ceasefire and hostage return deal, backed by US President Donald Trump. More phases of the negotiations are ongoing.

Under the terms, Hamas must release all Israeli hostages by 12:00 local time on Monday. Meanwhile, Israel is expected to release around 250 Palestinian prisoners and the deployment of aid into Gaza has been agreed upon.

Reports state that aid trucks should start arriving but the details of the operation remain unclear.

In southern Gaza, eyewitnesses observed Israeli troops pulling back from the Khan Younis area, and in Gaza City, troops were reported to have retreated from the northwestern outskirts.

US Central Command has confirmed that IDF troops completed their first phase withdrawal to maintain control over 53% of Gaza territory while awaiting further developments in the negotiations.

As the ceasefire took effect, thousands of Palestinians were seen traversing Gaza's coastal road, often on foot with belongings in hand, amidst a challenging situation marked by extensive war-induced devastation.

In Israel, families of hostages expressed relief but remain concerned about the fate of their loved ones, underlining the tense and uncertain nature of the current situation. The ongoing violence has led to extensive casualties, with over 67,000 Palestinians reportedly killed since hostilities escalated two years ago.

This ceasefire represents a pivotal moment, as future negotiations will possibly determine the long-term stability of the region.