Gaza’s civil defence rescuers said Israeli strikes killed eight people on Sunday (January 19, 2025) after Israel said a ceasefire in its war with Hamas was delayed at the last minute on orders of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A statement from Netanyahu’s office, issued less than an hour before the truce was set to start at 8:30 am (0630 GMT), said he had “instructed the IDF (military) that the ceasefire… will not begin until Israel has received the list” of hostages to be freed.
Hamas on ceasefire delay
Hamas, while “affirming its commitment” to the terms of the ceasefire, said: “The delay in providing the names of those to be released in the first batch is due to technical reasons,” later adding that the list would be given “at any moment.”
Follow more: Israel-Hamas ceasefire LIVE: Israeli forces attack Gaza after ceasefire deadline missed
The Israeli military confirmed shortly after 8:30 am that it was continuing “to strike within the Gaza area at this time” following Netanyahu’s directive.
AFPTV live images from northeastern Gaza showed a plume of grey smoke about 30 minutes after the truce was to take effect, and again around 30 minutes later.
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said three people were killed in northern Gaza and five in Gaza City, with 25 wounded.
The initial exchange was to see three Israeli hostages released from captivity in return for a first group of Palestinian prisoners.
Hostages release
If the ceasefire goes ahead, a total of 33 hostages taken by militants during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel will be returned from Gaza during an initial 42-day truce.
Under the deal, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli jails.
The truce is intended to pave the way for an end to more than 15 months of war sparked by Hamas’s 7 attack, the deadliest in Israeli history.
It follows a deal struck by mediators Qatar, the United States and Egypt after months of negotiations, and takes effect on the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president.
In a televised address on Saturday, Netanyahu said Israel had US support to return to war if necessary.
Calling the 42-day first phase a “temporary ceasefire”, he said: “If we are forced to resume the war, we will do so with force.”
‘War needed to end’
Even ahead of the truce, Gazans displaced by the war to other parts of the devastated territory were preparing to return home.
In Gaza City, shortly after the deal was initially expected to go into effect, they were already celebrating, waving Palestinian flags in the street.
The Israeli army warned Gaza residents early Sunday not to approach its forces or Israeli territory.
“We urge you not to head towards the buffer zone or IDF forces for your safety,” military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on Telegram.
“At this stage, heading towards the buffer zone or moving from south to north via Gaza Valley puts you at risk.”
Jerusalem residents said the deal had been a long time coming.
“Maybe this is the beginning of (the) end of suffering for both sides, hopefully,” said Beeri Yemeni, a university student, adding that “the war needed to end like a long, long time ago”.
Published – January 19, 2025 01:56 pm IST
