Gaza ceasefire takes hold after another delay, raising hopes of ending the war and freeing hostages
Last edited Sun Jan 19, 2025, 08:19 AM - Edit history (3)
Source: AP
Updated 7:45 AM EST, January 19, 2025
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, ushering in an initial six-week period of calm and raising hopes for the release of dozens of militant-held hostages and an end to a devastating 15-month conflict. A last-minute delay by Hamas put off the start of the truce by nearly three hours and highlighted its fragility.
But even before the truce officially took effect, celebrations erupted across the war-ravaged territory and some Palestinians began returning to their homes. Israel, meanwhile, announced the names of the first hostages expected to return home later Sunday, in exchange for the planned release of dozens of Palestinian prisoners.
The truce, which started at 11:15 a.m. local time, is just the first step toward ultimately ending the conflict and returning nearly 100 hostages abducted in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack.
An Israeli official confirmed that Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were set to be released later on Sunday. Gonen was abducted from the Nova music festival, while the other two were kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Damari is an Israeli-British dual citizen. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said the families had approved the publication of the names.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-ceasefire-hostages-01-19-2025-437f7f1bf49c9d2936718cf78bdf272c
Article updated.
Previous articles/headline -
Updated 5:33 AM EST, January 19, 2025
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) -- A long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza began after a three-hour delay as Hamas named the three female hostages it plans to free later on Sunday. Israel had vowed to keep fighting until it received the names, as the long and uncertain process aimed at ending the war got off to a bumpy start.
Celebrations erupted across the war-ravaged territory and some Palestinians began returning to their homes despite the delay, which underscored the fragility of the agreement. The truce, which started at 11:15 a.m. local time, is a first step toward ultimately ending the conflict and returning nearly 100 hostages abducted in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered it.
An Israeli official confirmed that Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were set to be released later on Sunday. Gonen was abducted from the Nova music festival, while the other two were kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Damari is an Israeli-British dual citizen. The official said the families had approved the publication of the names. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier Hamas had not lived up to its commitment to provide the names of the three hostages it was set to release in exchange for scores of Palestinian prisoners before the original time for the ceasefire to start. The military said it would continue to attack targets in Gaza until the names were provided.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) -- A long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza began after a three-hour delay as Hamas named the three female hostages it plans to free later on Sunday. Israel had vowed to keep fighting until it received the names, as the long and uncertain process aimed at ending the war got off to a bumpy start.
Celebrations erupted across the war-ravaged territory and some Palestinians began returning to their homes despite the delay, which underscored the fragility of the agreement. The truce, which started at 11:15 a.m. local time, is a first step toward ultimately ending the conflict and returning nearly 100 hostages abducted in the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that triggered it.
Israeli media reported that Romi Gonen, 24, who was abducted from a music festival and appeared on the Hamas list, is set to be released, citing her brother's social media. Israel has not confirmed any of the three names provided by Hamas, and the other two families have not yet commented.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier Hamas had not lived up to its commitment to provide the names of the three hostages it was set to release in exchange for scores of Palestinian prisoners. The military said it would continue to attack targets in Gaza until the names were provided.
Original article -
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) -- A long-awaited cease-fire in Gaza has begun after a nearly three-hour delay. The truce was postponed after Hamas did not name the three hostages it plans to release later on Sunday.
Israel vowed to keep fighting until it received the names, which were posted on social media by Hamas' armed wing around two hours later. That appeared to pave the way for the start of the ceasefire, which Israel said would begin at 11:15 a.m. local time.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows below.
Hamas named the three hostages it plans to release on Sunday more than two hours after the ceasefire in Gaza was supposed to have begun. Israel had earlier said it would keep fighting until it received the names. There was no immediate comment from Israel after Hamas' armed wing posted the names of the three female hostages on social media.
Celebrations erupted across the war-ravaged territory, and some Palestinians began returning to their homes, even as the delay underscored the fragility of the agreement. The deal sets in motion a long and uncertain process aimed at ultimately ending the war and returning nearly 100 hostages abducted in the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that triggered it.
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