Cairo: A fragile ceasefire brokered by the US took effect in Gaza on Friday afternoon, bringing a tentative pause to two years of devastating war in Gaza— even as Israeli forces launched last-minute strikes just hours before the truce began..

The Israeli military announced that the ceasefire formally began at 12 p.m. local time (9 a.m. GMT), following the army’s withdrawal to “agreed-upon lines” as outlined in the first phase of the truce. By midday, Israeli tanks had pulled back from the coastal al-Rashid Street, allowing thousands of displaced Palestinians to make their way back toward Gaza City for the first time in months.

The announcement came shortly after heavy Israeli bombardment of Gaza City and Khan Younis, where air and artillery strikes were reported throughout the morning.

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