Skip next section Israeli military says three hostages handed over
01/19/2025January 19, 2025
Israeli military says three hostages handed over
The first three Israeli hostages were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross as part of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, the Israeli military said.
Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official told AFP news agency that the Palestinian militant group had handed over three Israeli women hostages to the Red Cross, as agreed with Israel in a ceasefire deal.
An Israeli official told Reuters that the Red Cross said the women were in good health.
Earlier, Hamas identified the first three Israeli hostages to be released as Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari.
https://p.dw.com/p/4pLPu
Skip next section Israeli minister threatens to quit government if Gaza war ends
01/19/2025January 19, 2025
Israeli minister threatens to quit government if Gaza war ends
Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened to quit the coalition government if Israel halts its war against Hamas in Gaza.
He also said that he had received a commitment that Israel would not agree to ending the war before “achieving all of its goals.”
Smotrich heads the nationalist Religious Zionism party, which .
Earlier, hardline National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and two other ministers from his nationalist-religious Otzma Yehudi party resigned in protest over the cabinet’s approval of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
https://p.dw.com/p/4pLLX
Skip next section Trump, Britain welcome release of three hostages
01/19/2025January 19, 2025
Trump, Britain welcome release of three hostages
US President-elect has welcomed the imminent release of three hostages held by Gaza militants as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel.
“Hostages starting to come out today! Three wonderful young women will be first,” Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social.
Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher, all Israeli civilians, will be released from captivity on Sunday, the Forum of Hostage Families confirmed.
Britain also welcomed the expected release of British-Israeli hostage Damari, a Foreign Office spokesperson said.
“We stand ready to support her upon her release,” the spokesperson added. “We urge both sides to implement all phases of the deal in full and for all hostages to be returned.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4pLMK
Skip next section Pope voices gratitude for ceasefire
01/19/2025January 19, 2025
Pope voices gratitude for ceasefire
on Sunday thanked mediators for their efforts in bringing about the ceasefire in Gaza.
“Thanks to all the parties involved in this important outcome. I hope that, as agreed, it will be immediately respected by the parties and that all the hostages will finally be able to go home to hug their loved ones again,” he said.
“I pray so much for them, and their families. I also hope that humanitarian aid will even more quickly reach … the people of , who have so many urgent needs,” Francis said.
“Both Israelis and Palestinians need clear signs of hope. I hope that the political authorities of both, with the help of the international community, can reach the right two-state solution,” the pontiff went on.
“May everyone say yes to dialogue, yes to reconciliation, yes to peace.”
Earlier in January, the pope, who has previously called for a ceasefire in Gaza, described the humanitarian situation in the Palestianian enclave amid Israel’s military campaign against as “very serious and shameful.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4pLIV
Skip next section First aid trucks enter Gaza after ceasefire goes into effect
01/19/2025January 19, 2025
First aid trucks enter Gaza after ceasefire goes into effect
Trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered the on Sunday as a truce between Israel and Hamas began, the United Nations says.
“First trucks of supplies started entering” almost immediately after the ceasefire took effect on Sunday morning, UN aid official Jonathan Whittall, said on X, formerly Twitter.
“A massive effort has been underway over the past days from humanitarian partners to load and prepare to distribute a surge of aid across all of Gaza,” said Whittall, who is the interim chief of the UN’s OCHA aid agency for the .
He gave no details on where the supplies entered Gaza.
An Egyptian source speaking to the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity, however, said that “197 trucks of aid and five of fuel entered through the crossing of Kerem Shalom between Israel and Gaza and that of al-Oga” and Nitzana between Egypt and Israel.
The UN’S World Food Program (WFP) said trucks have started entering Gaza through two crossings.
It said on X that the first WFP trucks were carrying wheat flour and ready-to-eat food parcels.
“This ceasefire is critical for the humanitarian response. Safety, and access must be ensured,” the UN agency said.
https://p.dw.com/p/4pLI1
Skip next section Displaced Gazans return home as ceasefire begins
01/19/2025January 19, 2025
Displaced Gazans return home as ceasefire begins
Thousands of Palestinians poured into the streets of after a truce between Israel and Hamas took effect after an initial delay.
Some celebrated, others visited the graves of loved ones, and many began returning to their homes after more than 15 months of war that displaced the majority of the territory’s population.
Thousands of people could be seen traveling with tents, clothes and their personal belongings.
“I’m very, very happy,” said Wafa al-Habeel. “I want to go back and kiss the ground and the soil of Gaza. I am longing for Gaza (City) and longing for our loved ones.”
Meanwhile, Ahmed Abu Ayham, who was displaced with his family from Gaza City and is sheltering in the southern city of Khan Younis, said the scene of destruction in his home city was “dreadful.”
He added that while the ceasefire may have saved lives, it was no time for celebration.
https://p.dw.com/p/4pLGu
01/19/2025January 19, 2025
Children ‘dreaming of sleeping in their own beds’ after months of war, UNICEF tells DW
As the ceasefire begins, children in Gaza are hoping their bedrooms are intact and “dreaming of sleeping in their own bed again” after spending months in makeshift tents, official Rosalia Bollen told DW.
Bollen said she had spoken in the Al-Mawasi refugee camp to families from Rafah, in the south of the Palestinian enclave, who were “longing” to see if anything remains of the homes they have left.
She spoke of some confusion on Sunday morning as the ceasefire was delayed, with children celebrating in the street while shelling could still be heard close by and unsure if the truce meant that the war had truly ended.
https://p.dw.com/p/4pLDs
Skip next section No Mideast stability while Hamas rules Gaza: Israeli FM
01/19/2025January 19, 2025
No Mideast stability while Hamas rules Gaza: Israeli FM
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the Palestinian Islamist group would likely remain an obstacle to regional stability if it continued to govern the , as it has de facto done since 2007.
“If (Hamas) will stay in power, the regional instability it causes might continue,” Saar said at a press conference shortly after the start of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that was agreed last week.
Saar also said that Israel remained committed to acheiving its objectives in the current , which include securing the return of hostages and the dismantling of Hamas’ government and military capabilities.
Israel has been waging war against Hamas in Gaza since the group led a deadly militant attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, during which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and more than 250 hostages taken.
https://p.dw.com/p/4pLAm
Skip next section Mediator Qatar confirms start of ceasefire
01/19/2025January 19, 2025
Mediator Qatar confirms start of ceasefire
, which has played a key role in mediation between and , on Sunday confirmed the start of a truce between the two sides.
It also said some of the initial three female hostages to be freed under the deal hold foreign citizenship.
“We confirm that the names of the three hostages who will be released today have been handed over to the Israeli side,” Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said in a statement. “They are three Israeli citizens, one of whom holds Romanian citizenship and the other British citizenship. Thus, the ceasefire has begun.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4pL1h
Skip next section Ceasefire begins at 0915 GMT, Israel says
01/19/2025January 19, 2025
Ceasefire begins at 0915 GMT, Israel says
The planned ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect at 11:15 a.m. local time (0915 GMT) after a delay of almost three hours, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.
The delay came after Hamas was late in presenting a list with names of three hostages due to be released under the deal brokered last week.
https://p.dw.com/p/4pL0X
Skip next section Israel confirms receipt of hostage list from Hamas
01/19/2025January 19, 2025
Israel confirms receipt of hostage list from Hamas
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that Hamas has named three Israeli hostages to be released Sunday.
The confirmation paves the way for the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to come into force after a delay.
https://p.dw.com/p/4pL0M
Skip next section Hard-line Israeli minister Ben-Gvir resigns from government over ceasefire
01/19/2025January 19, 2025
Hard-line Israeli minister Ben-Gvir resigns from government over ceasefire
The Israeli minister of national security, , has submitted his resignation from the government, along with two other ministers from his nationalist-religious party, in opposition to the ceasefire deal for .
Ben-Gvir, who is known for his far-right views, has been a key governing partner for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The departure of Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party from the government will not cause the collapse of the coalition, but is expected to have a destabilizing effect.
https://p.dw.com/p/4pKs8
Skip next section Hamas sends list with hostage names
01/19/2025January 19, 2025
Hamas sends list with hostage names
The Palestinian militant group has reportedly released a list with the names of three hostages set to be freed first under a ceasefire agreement with Israel, news agencies reported, citing negotiators and Hamas.
“As part of the … prisoner swap deal, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigade decided to release the following Israeli prisoners today,” the group said in a statement, giving the names of three women.
There has so far been no official confirmation from Israel that it has received the list.
Israel delayed the planned ceasefire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which was expected to come into force at 8:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT), after saying that Hamas had failed to provide the names of the hostages to be released on Sunday in time.
https://p.dw.com/p/4pKsH
Skip next section Ceasefire delayed as Israel says it continues attacks in Gaza
01/19/2025January 19, 2025
Ceasefire delayed as Israel says it continues attacks in Gaza
The Israeli military says it “continues to attack” inside the as the planned ceasefire due to go into effect on Sunday morning is delayed owing to a dispute with .
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, chief spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said the truce would not begin until Hamas hands over the names of three hostages to be released later in the day.
The initial exchange under the ceasefire deal agreed last week was to see three Israeli hostages released by Hamas in return for a first group of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
“The IDF continues to strike within the Gaza area at this time. According to the prime minister’s directives, the ceasefire will not come into effect until Hamas fulfils its commitments,” he said in a televised statement.
His comments echo an earlier statement from Prime Minister .
In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, the IDF said that the “IDF is continuing to operate and strike terrorist targets in Gaza.”
Medics in Gaza say three Palestinians were killed on Sunday in an Israeli drone attack in eastern Gaza City, while the Palestinian civil emergency service said at least eight people have been killed across the enclave in the latest attacks.
https://p.dw.com/p/4pKq1
Skip next section Israeli military says recovers body of soldier held in Gaza since 2014
01/19/2025January 19, 2025
Israeli military says recovers body of soldier held in Gaza since 2014
The Israeli military says it has found the body of an Israeli soldier who had been held in Gaza since 2014, shortly before the commencement of the ceasefire.
“Last night, in a special operation by the Shin Bet (security agency) and the IDF (military) … we brought back to Israel the body of Golani fighter Oron Shaul,” the military said in a statement.
The bodies of Shaul and of another soldier, Hadar Goldin, remained in Gaza after the 2014 Israel-Hamas war.
A public campaign by their families failed to bring about the recovery of their remains.
https://p.dw.com/p/4pKpf
The post IDF says 3 hostages have returned to Israel appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
