Israeli forces have completed a pullback of troops from Gaza on Friday after Israel's Cabinet approved a plan for a ceasefire aimed at ending the devastating two-year war.

The statement came after Israel approved a deal between Israel and Hamas to pave the way for the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

A Toledo, Ohio, native and veteran is back home and was greeted with hugs and chants at the Detroit Metro Airport on Friday after he was released from an Israeli jail after taking part in the widely publicized Global Sumud Flotilla.

With Israel's government expcted to approve a ceasefire in Gaza later, Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has just landed in Israel, according to the BBC's US partner, CBS. Witkoff is joined by Jared Kushner, Trump's son in law and former adviser.

Most Democrats left President Trump conspicuously unmentioned as they cheered a potential end to the conflict, reflecting the tricky politics around the war and their party’s deep hostility to Mr. Trump.

Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El Sisi also said Wednesday that the messages he had received out of the talks in Sharm el-Sheikh were "very encouraging."

The ceasefire took effect at noon Friday. The Israeli military said it had pulled back its troops to lines inside Gaza agreed on for the first day, withdrawing from much of Gaza C