(16 Jan 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jerusalem – 16 January 2025
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Federman, The Associated Press:
"The Gaza ceasefire hasn’t even taken effect yet, and already it appears to be in trouble. Two U.S. presidents, Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump both announced the deal on Wednesday, as did the prime minister of Qatar, the Middle East country that’s been mediating weeks of negotiations. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says there still is no agreement. He’s blaming Hamas. He says the group is trying to make last-minute changes to the deal. Hamas denies these allegations and says it’s committed to the agreement."
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2. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Federman, The Associated Press:
"There may be an element of domestic Israeli politics at play here. Two hardline partners in Netanyahu’s governing coalition have come out against the deal and threatened to possibly bring down the government over it. It’s not clear how serious this crisis is, but it has forced Netanyahu to delay a planned cabinet vote that was meant to ratify the agreement."
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3. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Federman, The Associated Press:
"The agreement aims to end a devastating 15 month war. It would bring home dozens of hostages held in Gaza and also allow hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to their homes or what’s left of their homes in Gaza. The deal was welcomed on both sides on Wednesday. But for the time being, the families of hostages and the displaced Palestinians are now facing another period of renewed uncertainty."
STORYLINE:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Thursday his Cabinet won’t meet to approve the agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages until Hamas backs down, accusing the group of reneging on parts of the agreement in an attempt to gain further concessions.
His office did not elaborate.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip have killed at least 72 people since the ceasefire deal was announced, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy Israeli bombardment overnight as people were celebrating the ceasefire deal.
In previous conflicts, both sides have stepped up military operations in the final hours before ceasefires go into effect as a way to project strength.
Under the deal expected to begin Sunday, 33 hostages are set to be released over the next six weeks, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
The remainder, including male soldiers, are to be released in a second phase that will be negotiated during the first.
Hamas has said it will not release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal.
Israel’s offensive has killed over 46,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Health Ministry.
It does not say how many of the dead were militants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence.
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