Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Benjamin Netanyahu has warned he reserves the right to restart the war in Gaza with the backing of the United States if he is not satisfied with Hamas’ handling of the ceasefire deal.
It came after he said Israel will not proceed with the ceasefire until he receives a list of the 33 hostages who will be released by Hamas in the first phase.
Israel’s government ratified the truce with Hamas on Saturday morning, paving the way for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip after 15 months of devastating fighting.
He told reporters: “If we resume combat we will do in new ways and in tremendous force. Hamas tried to dictate to us but I adamantly objected.
“It is Hamas who threw up obstacles, not Israel.”
The deal is set to come into effect at 8.30am local time (6.30am GMT) on Sunday, the Qatari foreign ministry spokesman said.
Also on Saturday, in Gaza, Israeli warplanes kept up attacks. Tanks shelled the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City and airstrikes hit central and southern Gaza, residents said.
The Israeli military said that since Friday it had struck Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters who were among 50 “terror targets” it hit across the Gaza Strip.
At least 123 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire deal was announced on Wednesday, the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said.
Israeli forces start withdrawing from Rafah to corridor, report says
Israeli forces started withdrawing from areas in Gaza’s Rafah to the Philadelphi corridor along the border between Egypt and Gaza, pro-Hamas media reported early on Sunday.
Shweta Sharma19 January 2025 03:18
What will happen on Sunday as ceasefire begins
The ceasefire goes into effect at 8.30am local time (6.30am GMT). According to the plan, three living female hostages are to be released after 4pm (2pm GMT). Soon afterwards, Israel will release around 95 Palestinian prisoners, who are mostly minors or female.
Hamas was supposed to provide Israel with the names of the three hostages on Saturday afternoon, but as of late Saturday night, Israel had still not received the names. The names are to be made public only after the hostages are returned and officially identified.
In southern Israel, schools will begin at 10am in anticipation that Hamas could launch rockets toward Israel just before the ceasefire begins.
Israeli troops inside Gaza will be deployed mostly among the territory’s borders with Israel and Egypt, and maintain a presence on a road that divides northern and southern Gaza, according to a map released by the Israeli military.
Meanwhile, hundreds of trucks carrying desperately needed humanitarian supplies are expected to pour into Gaza.
Barney Davis19 January 2025 03:12
Historic Gaza ceasefire and hostage release set to begin
A historic ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is set to come into effect this morning with the release of hostages to follow hours later.
Israeli forces started withdrawing from areas in Gaza‘s Rafah to the Philadelphi corridor along the border between Egypt and Gaza, pro-Hamas media reported early on Sunday.
The ceasefire agreement followed months of on-off negotiations brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, and came just ahead of the 20 January inauguration of US president-elect Donald Trump.
The three-stage ceasefire will come into effect at 0630 GMT on Sunday.
Its first stage will last six weeks, during which 33 of the remaining 98 hostages – women, children, men over 50, the ill and wounded – will be released in return for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
They include 737 male, female and teen-aged prisoners, some of whom are members of militant groups convicted of attacks that killed dozens of Israelis, as well as hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza in detention since the start of the war.
Three female hostages are expected to be released on Sunday afternoon through the Red Cross, in return for 30 prisoners each.
During the first phase the Israeli army will pull back from some of its positions in Gaza and Palestinians displaced from areas in northern Gaza will be allowed to return.
Shweta Sharma19 January 2025 02:54
Family of one of the oldest Israeli hostages ‘hopes for miracle’ in ceasefire truce
Barney Davis19 January 2025 02:12
Thousands join pro-Palestine march in Westminster
Barney Davis19 January 2025 01:12
In pictures: More than 70 pro-Palestine protesters arrested in central London
More than 70 pro-Palestinian protesters have been arrested in Trafalgar Square on suspicion of breaching protest conditions after demonstrators broke through a police line as they marched from a rally in Whitehall.
Barney Davis19 January 2025 00:12
‘Victory = Hostage Deal’ Protests carry on ahead of ceasefire
People light flares and chant slogans during an anti-government protest calling for action to secure the release of Israeli hostages hours before a ceasefire is expected to take effect.
Barney Davis18 January 2025 23:12
‘Deal better hold’ Trump gives message ahead of meeting Netanyahu
US President-elect Donald Trump says the ceasefire and hostage release deal “better hold,” as he’s asked by NBC News’ “Meet the Press” if he’s confident the Israeli captives held by Hamas will soon be freed.
“Well, we’re going to see very soon, and it better hold,” Trump says during the phone interview.
Trump says he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “Just keep doing what you have to do. You have to have — this has to end. We want it to end, but to keep doing what has to be done.”
Barney Davis18 January 2025 22:10
Wife of prisoner hopes to see him for first time in ten years
The wife of the longest-held Palestinian prisoner by Israel says she will be happy to see him again after more than a decade. The 68-year-old Nael Barghouti is the highest-profile prisoner set to be released under the Gaza ceasefire that begins Sunday.
He was first arrested in 1978 and charged with carrying out armed operations and organizing cells to act against Israel. He was released in 2011 as part of the deal for the Hamas militant group to release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, but he was arrested again in 2014.
Barghouti’s wife, Iman, now worries about being able to see her husband if he is deported to an area she cannot easily reach. “They prevent families to see each other,” she said during an interview in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
She said she remembers her husband enjoying looking at the stars “because he didn’t see them for 33 years and half.”
Barney Davis18 January 2025 21:43
Read More: Israel-Hamas ceasefire latest: Netanyahu says US will back return to Gaza war
