Displaced Palestinians wave national flags as they return to Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on January 19, 2025. (Photo by Eyad Baba / AFP)
Doha, Qatar: The ceasefire in Gaza has begun, announced the official spokesperson at the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Palestinians in Gaza were couting minutes to the start of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The ceasefire was expected to begin at 8.30am local time in Gaza (9.30am Doha Time) today, January 19, 2025, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson.
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UPDATE: Palestinians wounded by Israeli forces outside Ofer Prison
Al Jazeera reports that at least seven people have been wounded after Israeli security personnel attacked people gathered near the military prison, inside which are the 90 Palestinian prisoners set to be released tonight.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society reports that the injuries, which its crews treated, were “minor”.
Sources say that Israeli forces deployed tear gas and rubber bullets against those gathered outside the prison, which is located near the Palestinian town of Beitunia, west of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
Palestinians hit with tear gas outside Ofer
According to Al Jazeera, a number of Palestinians suffered from suffocation after the Israeli occupation forces fired tear gas bombs at them in front of Ofer Prison.
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As part of the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, three Israeli detainees were released on Sunday#Gaza #Gazaceasefirehttps://t.co/61tY5KwNoe
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) January 19, 2025
Gaza ceasefire agreement reflects months of diplomatic efforts: Biden
US President Joe Biden said Gaza ceasefire agreement reflects months of diplomatic efforts, emphasizing that coordination with Qatar and Egypt was essential to the success of the negotiations.
In a speech delivered today, Biden stated that he received confirmation of the release of three hostages from Gaza. He noted that the agreement implemented today is the same proposal he had put forward last May. Read more.
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Crowds wait into the night for Palestinian prisoner release
Baytunya, Palestinian Territories: Standing around fires, crowds braved the cold on Sunday night along the route where Palestinian prisoners are to be released from Israeli prisons as part of a Gaza ceasefire deal.
A boy stands on a hill against the backdrop of the Ofer Prison, in the west of Ramallah on January 19, 2025. (Photo by JOHN WESSELS / AFP)
Hundreds gathered on a hill in the usually quiet suburb of Beitunia, whose location offers a view of Israel's Ofer prison, on the other side of the separation wall.
On the West Bank side, throngs arrived to witness the first release of hundreds of Palestinians in exchange for three Israeli detainees held in Gaza since October 7, 2023. (AFP)
"As soon as the atmosphere began, we came here to witness it and feel the emotions, just like the families of the prisoners who are being released today," said Amanda Abu Sharkh, 23, from the nearby city of Ramallah.
UN races to feed Gazans after truce
"We're moving in with wheat flour, ready to eat meals, and we will be working all fronts trying to restock the bakeries," said UN's World Food Programme Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau. Read more.
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US President Joe Biden welcomes Gaza truce
"After so much pain, death and loss of life, today the guns have gone silent," the outgoing president said, hours after the ceasefire took effect. Read more.
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Israel says detainees are out of Gaza
Al Jazeera reports that, according to the Israeli forces, the three released Israeli detainees, as of 7:11pm local Doha time, have now entered Israel.
Buses arrive for Palestinian prisoners
#BREAKING:
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) January 19, 2025
Al Jazeera: Red Cross delegation entered Ofer Prison to receive the Palestinian prisoners set to be released under the deal.#Gaza #ceasefire
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A total of 90 Palestinian prisoners – women and children – are due to be freed in exchange for three detainees who were held in Gaza.
Israeli army confirms detainees received
#BREAKING:
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) January 19, 2025
Al Jazeera: Israeli army says the Red Cross has communicated that it has received the three Israeli detainees, according to Reuters.
????https://t.co/v3vgkGpYgm#Gaza #ceasefire pic.twitter.com/KvchO0fGsV
Israeli detainees handed to Red Cross in Gaza: Al Jazeera
#BREAKING:
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) January 19, 2025
Al Jazeera: The three Israeli captives, set to be released as part of the agreement, have been transferred to the Red Cross in Gaza.#Gaza #ceasefire pic.twitter.com/MSpLXKqUV4
Displaced Gazans head home through rubble as Israel-Hamas truce begins
Thousands of displaced, war-weary Gazans set off across the devastated Palestinian territory to return to their home areas on Sunday, after a long-awaited truce between Israel and Hamas took effect following an initial delay.
Minutes after the truce began, the UN said, the first trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza, where many residents are returning to nothing. Read more
Prime Minister receives delegation from Palestinian factions
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received today in his office in Doha a delegation from the Palestinian factions.
During the meeting, the progress of implementing the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, which entered into force today, was reviewed in all its dimensions, and the executive aspects were discussed, especially those related to the exchange of prisoners and detainees, the entry of aid into the Strip, and the return of the displaced to their areas. Read more
Mediators confident detainee-and-prisoner exchange will be successful: Official
Doha, Qatar: “Logistical delay” in getting the names of the captives that are due to be released was the reason for the delayed implementation of the ceasefire, said Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson.
Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H E Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari spoke to Al Jazeera said that “Communication and movement in Gaza is not easy and therefore it takes sometimes more time than expected, but thankfully we were able to resolve it and now we have the ceasefire in place and aid starting to go into Gaza.”
He also expressed confidence that the detainee-and-prisoner exchange later today will be “successful”. Read more
First trucks carrying aid arrive in Gaza under ceasefire: UN
Trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Sunday after a truce between Israel and Hamas went into effect, the United Nations said.
An aid truck crosses a checkpoint in Egypt's northern Sinai peninsula near the city of Bir al-Abd on January 19, 2025, shortly after a ceasefire deal was implemented. (Photo by Khaled Desouki / AFP)
"First trucks of supplies started entering" minutes after the ceasefire took effect on Sunday morning, UN aid official Jonathan Whittall, interim chief of the UN's OCHA aid agency for the Palestinian territories, said on X.
"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."
A video capturing the joy of wounded Gazans in Qatar over the ceasefire agreement
Wounded Gazans in Qatar express their joy over the ceasefire agreement
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) January 19, 2025
Read more: https://t.co/ysHKBz7nJE pic.twitter.com/JYB0fExxcX
- Hamas says expects list ‘shortly’ from Israel of 90 Palestinian prisoners to be freed
The Palestinian group has issued a statement saying it is awaiting a list of 90 prisoners to be released by Israel as part of the detainee-prisoner exchange on the first day of the ceasefire.
“The occupation is expected to hand over shortly a list containing the names of 90 prisoners from the categories of women and children who are set to be released on the first day of the ceasefire,” Hamas said.
It added that the deal stipulated “the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for one civilian detainee”.
- Qatar confirms Gaza ceasefire begins: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson
The ceasefire in Gaza has begun, announced the official spokesperson at the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Read here
The ceasefire in Gaza has begun, announced the official spokesperson at the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs. pic.twitter.com/Uw8YxzKwvR
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) January 19, 2025
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The Israeli army has received an official order to cease fire in the Gaza Strip: Al Jazeera
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European Hospital spokesman in Khan Yunis to Al Jazeera: There is no health facility in Rafah capable of providing medical service after the occupation's targeting of all facilities.
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Palestinian spokesperson Abu Obaida: As part of the ceasefire agreement prisoner exchange deal, Al-Qassam Brigades has decided to release today, Sunday, the following Zionist prisoners: Romi Gonen (24 years old), Emily Damari (28 years old), and Doron Steinbrecher (31 years old): Al Jazeera
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Government Media Office in Gaza: "We have begun deploying thousands of police elements according to a government plan to maintain security and order throughout the Strip."
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Government institutions are ready to begin work to implement all procedures that ensure life returns to normal as quickly as possible in a gradual manner: Government Media Office in Gaza.
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The list of names of the 3 female hostages to be released today is now being handed over to the mediators: Al Jazeera
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Mayor of Rafah:
90% of residential areas have been erased in several neighborhoods of the city
9 medical centers have gone out of service, including 4 major hospitals, and 31 mosques have been completely destroyed throughout Rafah
Mayor of Rafah declares it a disaster area and pleads the international community to act for reconstruction efforts
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Netanyahu's office says the ceasefire scheduled for 8:30am (Gaza time) will not begin until the list of detainees' names arrives: Al Jazeera
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) January 19, 2025
Hamas confirms commitment to agreement terms and that delay in submitting names of those to be released is due to technical field issues:… pic.twitter.com/XkhRnBCE1x
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After 471 days of genocide, the ceasefire agreement in Gaza is officially underway
IN PHOTOS: Palestinian people celebrate the ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza City on January 19, 2025. Photos by AFP.
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) January 19, 2025
Read more: https://t.co/v3vgkGqw5U pic.twitter.com/ApvEitS8qa
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Palestinian police deploy in Gaza streets: Al Jazeera
Israeli bombing targets northern Gaza Strip: Al Jazeera
3 martyrs and 20 injured by occupation forces' gunfire in Al-Shuja'iya neighborhood after ceasefire went into effect: Al Jazeera
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