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1 day ago

Israel-Hamas ceasefire live: Israeli cabinet to vote on Friday with US ‘confident’ truce will begin on Sunday

Hamas and Israel reportedly ironed out a final stumbling block in negotiations on Thursday, relating to Palestinian prisoners

Bel Trew
Tel Aviv
,Sam Kiley,Tara Cobham,Alex Croft
Thursday 16 January 2025 18:34 GMT
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Israel accuses Hamas of backtracking on ceasefire deal

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The Israeli cabinet is due to convene on Friday morning to vote on a momentous ceasefire and hostage deal which would bring an end to 15-months of devastation in Gaza.

Negotiators have successfully addressed last-minute issues which arose on Thursday, a US official told Axios reporter Barak Ravid, with the Israeli cabinet expected to approve the ceasefire deal tomorrow morning.

The dispute reportedly concerned the identities of several prisoners which Hamas is demanding be released as part of the deal, which will also see the remaining Israeli hostages freed.

Earlier on Thursday, Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas of attempting “to extort last minute concessions”, prompting a senior Hamas official to come out to reiterate the Palestinian group’s commitment to the deal agreed on Wednesday.

The US is “confident” that the ceasefire will begin on Sunday as planned, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said.

But since the ceasefire was announced, Israel has killed at least 77 Palestinians, including 21 children and 25 women, officials in Gaza said, as it ramps up attacks on the enclave days before the truce is set to take effect.

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Alex Croft16 January 2025 17:14
1 day ago

Comment | I’m in Gaza – I worry Israel will kill us before the ceasefire begins

In Sheikh Radwan, in northern Gaza, we have been starving and waiting. The next few days leading up to a possible ceasefire feel more dangerous than ever for us Palestinians. Everyone is holding their breath, hoping to live long enough to see the good news realised. We have already seen Israel dropping bombs and killing 46 people since the ceasefire was announced.

For the past 15 months, hoping for a ceasefire has been one of the only things I can do. I have grown used to counting days since the start of this horror: counting the days since I was last able to get flour. I also count the days of our lives.

Ammar Kaskeen writes from northern Gaza:

The next 72 hours are critical – I worry Israel will kill us before the ceasefire

These final days before the ceasefire are the most terrifying, writes Ammar Kaskeen from the north of Gaza. I worry that Israel will try to finish up the war by dropping more bombs than ever before

Alex Croft16 January 2025 17:07
1 day ago

What happens over the next three days as ceasefire deal hangs in the balance

This is the moment when a political drama turns into a desperate horror movie. Some 94 human beings, among them children, remain held in a city under constant bombardment, hungry, terrified and literally in the dark while their lives are horse traded.

Hopes that their 15 month ordeal would finally come to an end came on Wednesday night after bold words from US and Qatari officials proclaiming a deal had been reached.

Under an agreement that the US, Hamas, lead mediators Qatar, and most Israelis believed had been done and dusted, 33 hostages were due to be released from Hamas imprisonment in return for dozens of Palestinians held by Israel over the next six weeks.

The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley reports:

Israel-Gaza: What happens over the next three days as ceasefire in the balance

As the Israeli cabinet stalls over approving the ceasefire deal with Hamas, World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley looks at where the deal goes from here

Alex Croft16 January 2025 16:48
1 day ago

Blinken heckled by journalist during briefing

During a briefing on the Gaza ceasefire deal, US secretary of state Antony Blinken was heckled by someone who appeared to be a journalist as he thanked reporters in the room for holding the US government to account.

“Reporters in Gaza were on the receiving end of your bombs. Why did you keep the bombs flowing when we had a deal? Everyone in this room knows we had a deal, Tony, and you kept the bombs flowing,” the heckler said.

Mr Blinken responded: “I’m happy to address your questions when we get to the questions, thank you.”

The heckler continued: “Why did you allow my friends to be massacred? How does it feel to have your legacy be genocide?”

Directed towards state department spokesperson Matt Miller, the heckler added: “You too Matt, you smirked through the whole thing, every day. You smirked through a genocide.”

Alex Croft16 January 2025 16:29
1 day ago

Leading children’s charity ‘utterly appalled’ by Israeli attacks after ceasefire deal

A leading UK children’s charity has said it is “utterly appalled” by Israel’s continued bombing of Gaza after an agreement was reached for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Since the announcement ofthe ceasefire deal - which is due to be implemented from Sunday - 77 people in Gaza have been killed in Israeli attacks, the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said. Of those killed, 21 were children and 25 women, a spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense told CNN.

"We are utterly appalled at Israel’s ongoing bombing of Gaza, which continues to claim children’s lives in spite of yesterday’s agreement. This must end now.,” said Kathleen Spencer Chapman, the director of Influencing and External Affairs at Plan International UK.

“It is critical that the ceasefire announced yesterday is immediately ratified and implemented by all parties. The children of Gaza are in dire need of food, water, and shelter – and we are in a race against time to reach them. Hunger, dehydration, and disease kill just as surely as bullets and bombs, and every hour wasted places more children’s lives at risk.

"After 15 months of unimaginable violence, the children of Gaza finally have a moment of hope. It is time to put an end to this horror and support Gaza’s families to rebuild their lives and homes. There must be no further delays."

Alex Croft16 January 2025 16:21
1 day ago

Watch live: Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers remarks on Gaza Ceasefire deal

Alex Croft16 January 2025 16:06
1 day ago

21 children killed since ceasefire deal, Gaza official says

A spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense has said 21 children are among the 77 Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes since a ceasefire deal was announced on Wednesday.

There are also 25 women among the dead, spokesperson Mahmoud Basal told CNN. More than 250 others were injured, he added.

Alex Croft16 January 2025 16:02
1 day ago

Biden and Trump’s envoys working on last-minute agreement snag

US envoys are working to resolve a last-minute glitch which surfaced on Thursday regarding the details of the Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal, an official has said.

The dispute relates to the identities of several prisoners which Hamas is demanding be released as part of the deal, the official said, adding that the deal is expected to be resolved soon.

The Middle East envoys of president Joe Biden and president-elect Donald Trump, Brett McGurk and Steve Witkoff, are both working on the issue in Doha with Qatari and Egyptian negotiators.

In separate remarks, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said: "We’re aware of these issues and we are working through them with the Israeli government, as well as other partners in the region. We are confident these implementing details can be hammered out and that the deal will move forward this weekend.”

Reached on Wednesday, the agreement is supposed to begin to be implemented on Sunday.

Alex Croft16 January 2025 15:41
1 day ago

In pictures: Israeli attacks on Gaza continue days before ceasefire

Destroyed buildings by Israeli bombardments as seen inside the Gaza Strip from southern Israel
Destroyed buildings by Israeli bombardments as seen inside the Gaza Strip from southern Israel (AP)
Smoke rises from North Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, ahead of a ceasefire
Smoke rises from North Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, ahead of a ceasefire (REUTERS)
An Israeli soldier stands on a tank at the border with Gaz
An Israeli soldier stands on a tank at the border with Gaz (AP)
Alex Croft16 January 2025 15:32
1 day ago

Israel targets site where hostage is held after ceasefire, Hamas says

Israel has targeted a site in Gaza where a female hostage is being held after a ceasefire deal was reached, spokesperson Abu Obeida said on Thursday.

“After announcing the agreement, the enemy army targeted a place where one of the female prisoners of the first stage of the ceasefire deal was located,” Obeida said.

“Any aggression and shelling at this stage by the enemy could turn the freedom of a prisoner into a tragedy.”

The report has not been independently verified.

Alex Croft16 January 2025 15:14

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