(19 Jan 2025)
RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Deir Al-Balah, Central Gaza Strip – 19 January 2025
1. Various of people celebrating ceasefire supposed to start 0630 GMT, but delayed
3. Various of people celebrating
STORYLINE:
People celebrated in central Gaza Strip on Sunday in expectation of a Hamas-Israel ceasefire coming into effect at 0630 GMT.
But the deadline for the start of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip passed as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas had not lived up to its commitment to provide the names of the three hostages it was set to release later on Sunday in exchange for scores of Palestinian prisoners.
The list had not been handed over when the deadline for the truce to begin passed at 8:30 a.m. local time, (6:30 a.m GMT) Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the top Israeli military spokesman, said.
He said the army “continues to attack, even now, inside the Gaza arena," and would until Hamas complies with the agreement.
Hamas blamed the delay in handing over the names on “technical field reasons.” It said in a statement that it is committed to the ceasefire deal announced last week.
An Israeli official said mediators have provided assurances that the list will be delivered and the deal is still expected to go forward, though the timing remains in question. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing efforts to resolve the matter.
Netanyahu said he had instructed the military that the ceasefire “will not begin until Israel has in its possession the list of hostages to be freed, which Hamas committed to provide.” He had issued a similar warning the night before.
The planned ceasefire, agreed after a year of intensive mediation by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, is the first step in a long and fragile process aimed at winding down the 15-month war.
The 42-day first phase of the ceasefire should see a total of 33 hostages returned from Gaza and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees released. Israeli forces should pull back into a buffer zone inside Gaza, and many displaced Palestinians should be able to return home. The devastated territory should also see a surge in humanitarian aid.
AP video by Abdel Kareem Hana and produced by Wafaa Shurafa
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