President Donald Trump said earlier Wednesday he may go to the Middle East in the coming days.
President Donald Trump said earlier Wednesday he may go to the Middle East in the coming days.
The Israel Defense Forces have been instructed to “prepare strong defenses and be ready for any scenario,” after the announcement that the first phase of a ceasefire deal has been reached, the IDF said in a statement early Thursday morning local time.
“The IDF welcomes the signing of the agreement for the return of the hostages,” the IDF said in the statement. “Force deployments will be carried out in accordance with the directives of the political echelon and the stages of the agreement, with responsibility and a focus on the safety of our soldiers.”
The IDF chief of the General Staff also instructed IDF soldiers to “prepare to lead the operation for the hostages’ return,” the statement added.
Under the terms of the first phase of the deal, IDF troops will need to withdraw to a line agreed upon in the ceasefire deal within 24 hours after the deal has been approved by the Israeli government Thursday, according to a senior White House official.
It’s still unclear when on Thursday the Israeli government will vote to approve the deal.
-ABC News’ Dana Savir
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