Tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza were starting to walk north to return to their homes Friday, after the Israeli military said the ceasefire agreement with Hamas came into effect at noon local time and that its soldiers were withdrawing to the agreed-upon deployment lines. Palestinians had reported heavy shelling Friday morning in northern Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said early Friday that his Cabinet approved U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for a ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas and of many Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Those releases are expected to begin Sunday or Monday.

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