The sides have agreed to a prisoner exchange amid a humanitarian truce in the deadly 15-month conflict
© Amir Levy / Getty Images
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a delay in the planned Gaza ceasefire until Hamas provides the names of hostages set for release. The truce is scheduled to begin at 8:30am local time on Sunday.
Hamas is expected to release a group of Israeli hostages – including women, children, and elderly individuals – as part of the ceasefire agreement. In exchange, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from its jails.
Hamas was supposed to provide Israel with the names of the first three hostages to be released on Saturday afternoon, but the names have not yet been delivered. Hamas says the delay is due to “technical reasons.”
Israel and Hamas reached a deal earlier this week to halt the 15-month conflict, which has resulted in numerous casualties and extensive destruction in Gaza. The agreement, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, will be implemented in three phases, with the initial stage lasting six weeks.
The Israeli government approved the deal despite opposition from hardliners, with Netanyahu warning that Israel would resume the conflict if the ceasefire proves ineffective.
“If we must return to fighting, we will do that in new, forceful ways,” Netanyahu said, adding that both outgoing US President Joe Biden and incoming President Donald Trump “have given full backing to Israel’s right to return to the fighting.”
The war was triggered by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages taken. In retaliation, Israeli forces have conducted extensive operations in Gaza, leading to the deaths of more than 50,000 Palestinians and the forced displacement of nearly 2 million.
-
19 January 2025
07:00 GMT
Unconfirmed footage posted on X purports to show Israeli forces withdrawing from areas in Rafah, Gaza to the Philadelphi Corridor along the border between Egypt and Gaza.
انسحاب قوة عسكرية ضخمة من لواء غفعاتي أثناء الليل من شمال قطاع غزة ، تبقى ساعتان ونصف على بدء سريان اتفاق وقف إطلاق النار في قطاع غزة pic.twitter.com/fv4m49wFsA
— Tamer | تامر (@tamerqdh) January 19, 2025
- 07:00 GMT
The IDF will continue strikes in Gaza until Israel receives the list of hostages slated for release by Hamas, according to spokesman Daniel Hagari.
“As of this morning, Hamas is not fulfilling its obligations, and contrary to the agreement has not given Israel the names of the hostages,” he said.
“Per the directive of the prime minister, the ceasefire will not take effect as long as Hamas is not fulfilling its obligations. The [Israeli military] is continuing to strike now in Gaza, as long as Hamas is not fulfilling its obligations to the deal.”
- 06:55 GMT
Displaced people have started returning to their homes in northern Gaza City amid the withdrawal of IDF forces, according to videos posted online.
بدأ النازحون العودة إلى منازلهم المدمرة في شمال مدينة غزة بعد انسحاب قوات الجيش الإسرائيلي.حتى هذه اللحظة، لم يدخل موعد تنفيذ وقف إطلاق النار حيز التنفيذ . الكثيرون لم يستطيعوا الصبر أو الانتظار الساعات القليلة المتبقية.حماكم الله، وعودتكم تُسعد قلوبنا. pic.twitter.com/pDkIsuFneY
— Tamer | تامر (@tamerqdh) January 19, 2025
- 06:39 GMT
Israeli forces have been seen withdrawing from parts of central and eastern Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, according to CNN, citing a stringer based in the area.
- 06:37 GMT
The IDF has warned Palestinians in Gaza not to approach areas where the military will remain deployed at the start of the ceasefire agreement.
“We urge you not to head toward the buffer zone or IDF forces for your safety,” military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on Telegram.
- 06:30 GMT
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel has not yet received the list of hostages slated for release today by Hamas.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu conducted a security assessment overnight “regarding the delay in receiving the list of hostages expected to be released.”
Netanyahu “instructed the IDF that the ceasefire, which is scheduled to take effect at 8:30am, will not begin until Israel has the list of hostages to be released, which Hamas has pledged to provide,” the statement from his office adds.
- 06:25 GMT
Under the ceasefire agreement scheduled to begin on Sunday, Hamas is expected to release 33 of the 98 remaining Israeli hostages, including women, children, and elderly individuals. In exchange, Israel will release approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from its jails.
As part of the arrangement, three female hostages are slated to be released after 4pm (14:00 GMT) on Sunday. Shortly afterwards, Israel will release around 95 Palestinian prisoners, primarily minors and women.
Hamas was supposed to provide Israel with the names of the three hostages on Saturday afternoon, but as of late Saturday night, the names were not delivered. According to the agreement, the names of the hostages will only be made public after their return and official identification.
More