Partial IDF withdrawal from Gaza began overnight under cover of artillery shelling, airstrikes

By Emanuel Fabian

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10 October 2025, 9:53 am

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Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Tanks and armored vehicles of the 188th Armored Brigade roll out of the Gaza Strip, early October 10, 2025. (Amutat Barak 188)

Overnight and this morning, the IDF began to pull back troops in the Gaza Strip to agreed-upon deployment lines as part of the deal with Hamas to secure the release of all the hostages held by the terror group.

Some forces were completely withdrawn from Gaza, while others will remain at positions along the deployment lines.

The withdrawal took place under the cover of artillery shelling and airstrikes in some areas.

הביתה. pic.twitter.com/8HezNWeoUe

— Or Heller אור הלר (@OrHeller) October 10, 2025

The IDF is expected to complete the pullback by tonight, within 24 hours of the Israeli government officially ratifying the agreement with Hamas.

Once complete, the IDF will remain in control of just over half of the Strip’s territory, or 53 percent — most of which is outside urban areas.

This includes a buffer zone along the entire Gaza border, including the Philadelphi Corridor — the Egypt-Gaza border area — along with Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya in the Strip’s far north, a ridge on the eastern outskirts of Gaza City, and large portions of Rafah and Khan Younis in southern Gaza.