6 hours ago
8
January 17, 2025 | 08:00 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jerusalem - The Palestinian militant group Hamas is expected to release the first hostages under a Gaza ceasefire deal on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday, after 15 months of war that demolished the enclave.
If successful, the ceasefire would halt fighting between Hamas and Israeli forces that has razed much of heavily urbanised Gaza, killed more than 46,000 people, and displaced most of the enclave's pre-war population of 2.3 million several times over, according to local authorities.
It could also ease hostilities in the Middle East, where the Gaza war spread to include Iran and its proxies - Lebanon's Hezbollah, Yemen's Houthis and armed groups in Iraq as well as the occupied West Bank.
In Gaza itself on Friday, Israeli warplanes kept up heavy strikes, and the Civil Emergency Service said that at least 101 Palestinians, including 58 women and children, had been killed since the deal was announced on Wednesday.
Under the six-week first phase of the three-stage deal, Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, including all women (soldiers and civilians), children, and men over 50.
Israel will release all Palestinian women and children under 19 detained in Israeli jails by the end of the first phase. The total number of Palestinians released will depend on hostages released, and could be between 990 and 1,650 Palestinians, including men, women and children.
Hamas said in a statement on Friday that obstacles that arose in relation to the terms of the Gaza ceasefire agreement have been resolved.
Israel's acceptance of the deal will not be official until it is approved by the country's security cabinet and government.
In the early hours of Friday, Netanyahu's office said that Israel's security cabinet will meet to give final approval to the ceasefire accord after the meeting was pushed back from Thursday, raising concerns of delays.
Ministers were summoned to a full cabinet meeting at 1330 GMT on Friday, an official with knowledge of the situation said, giving ample time for the ceasefire to begin on Sunday and the first hostages to be returned to Israel.
Israel blamed Hamas for the last-minute hold-up, while Hamas on Thursday said it was committed to the deal, which is scheduled to take effect on Sunday.
U.S. Says Gaza Ceasefire to Start as Planned Despite 'Loose End'
12 jam lalu
The Gaza Strip ceasefire should begin on Sunday, January 19, 2025, as planned, despite the need for negotiators to tie up a "loose end."
Israeli Cabinet Delay Approval of Gaza Ceasefire Deal, as Strikes on Enclave Kill 77
20 jam lalu
Israel said it had delayed holding a cabinet meeting on Thursday to ratify a ceasefire with Hamas, blaming the militant group for the hold-up.
Israel Strikes Gaza Within Hours of Ceasefire Accord with Hamas, Residents Say
1 hari lalu
Israel intensified strikes on Gaza hours after a ceasefire and hostage release deal was announced
Netanyahu Says Ceasefire Deal Still Not Complete After Announcement
1 hari lalu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the Gaza ceasefire agreement with Hamas is not yet finalized.
Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal in Gaza to Take Effect on Sunday
1 hari lalu
Hamas and Israel reached a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza that mediators said would take effect on Sunday, January 19, 2025.
U.S. Says Hamas Gains New Recruits in Gaza, Replacing Fighters Killed by Israel
2 hari lalu
Israel's strikes on Gaza have displaced nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million population and drawn the concern of the world's main hunger monitor.
Rejecting Gaza Ceasefire, Bezalel Smotrich Gets Slammed by Hostage Families
3 hari lalu
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the ceasefire deal as a disaster and said Israel must continue its campaign in Gaza.
Final Draft of Gaza Truce Deal Presented After 'Breakthrough'
4 hari lalu
Mediators gave Israel and Hamas a final draft of a deal on Monday to end the war in Gaza, an official briefed on the negotiations said.
Joe Biden Calls Netanyahu, Urges Israel-Hamas to Ceasefire in Gaza
4 hari lalu
US President Joe Biden is racing to reach a deal on hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza.
Israeli Media Accuses Netanyahu Regime of Wanting to Destroy West Bank Like Gaza
9 hari lalu
Israeli daily Haaretz accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of trying to turn the occupied West Bank into rubble, as happened in Gaza
