(16 Jan 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Southern Israel, overlooking Gaza skyline – 16 January 2025
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1. Long shot of large explosion and smoke rising
STORYLINE:
A large explosion followed by a cloud of smoke was seen billowing from the Gaza Strip on Thursday, as Israel continues to strike the territory following a ceasefire announcement a day earlier.
Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip have killed at least 72 people since the agreement was announced on Wednesday, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy Israeli bombardment overnight as people were celebrating the ceasefire deal.
Around half of the dead were women and children, Zaher al-Wahedi, head of the ministry’s registration department, told The Associated Press.
The ministry says the toll from Thursday’s strikes only includes bodies brought to two hospitals in Gaza City, and that the actual toll is likely higher.
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.
Netanyahu said a “last-minute crisis” with Hamas was holding up Israeli approval of the long-awaited ceasefire agreement. His office did not elaborate.
Netanyahu began signaling there were issues with the deal just hours after U.S. President Joe Biden and key mediator Qatar announced it was complete.
It was not yet clear if Netanyahu’s statements merely reflected jockeying to keep his fractious coalition together or whether the deal was at risk.
A senior Hamas official said the militant group “is committed to the ceasefire agreement, which was announced by the mediators.”
Hamas triggered the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border attack into Israel that killed some 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage.
Israel responded with a fierce offensive that has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children make up more than half of those killed. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence.
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