Israel-Gaza cease-fire comes into effect
Scores of displaced Palestinians walk along a road in the Saftawi area of Jabalia, as they leave areas near Gaza City where they had taken refuge, toward the further northern part of the Gaza Strip, on January 19, 2025 (AFP Photo)
The Gaza cease-fire starts at 9:15 a.m. GMT after several hours of delay due to Hamas’s delay in handing over a list of hostages to Israel.
Israel said a Gaza cease-fire it agreed with Hamas would go into effect at 11:15 a.m. (local time) (09.15 GMT) on 19 Jan., Sunday, after confirming it had received a list of hostages to be freed.
“According to the plan for the release of the hostages, the ceasefire for phase one in Gaza will come into effect at 11:15 (local time),” a statement from the prime minister’s office said. The truce was initially scheduled to begin at 0630 GMT.
The cease-fire in the Gaza Strip officially takes effect. Hamas is reportedly set to release three female Israeli hostages starting at 4 p.m.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry announced that the names of three Israeli hostages to be released today have been handed over to the Israeli side.
The ministry confirmed that the hostages were Israeli citizens, with one holding Romanian citizenship and another British citizenship. It added that the ceasefire has officially begun.
Details to follow…
