Overnight and this morning, the IDF began to pull back troops in the Gaza Strip

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Some forces were completely withdrawn from Gaza, while others will remain at positions along the deployment lines.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

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

Once complete, the IDF will remain in control of just over half of the Strip's territory, or 53% -- most of which is outside of 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.