A ceasefire in the Gaza war will begin on Sunday morning, mediator Qatar said after Israel’s cabinet voted to approve the truce and hostage-prisoner release deal.
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Children play with fireworks on the rubble of destroyed buildings at a camp for displaced Palestinians in Bureij in the central Gaza Strip on January 18, 2025, a day before a ceasefire is set to take effect following the Israeli cabinet’s approval of a deal between Israel and Hamas. Image- AFP
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel reserves the right to resume fighting in Gaza with US support, as he pledged to bring home all hostages held in the Palestinian territory.
“We reserve the right to resume the war if necessary, with American support,” Netanyahu said in a televised statement, a day before a ceasefire is set to take effect. He added that Israel had “changed the face of the Middle East” since the war began.
Earlier today, Netanyahu said that Israel would not proceed with the Gaza ceasefire until it receives a list of the names of the hostages, Hamas will release in the first phase of the deal.
“We will not move forward with the agreement until we receive the list of hostages who will be released, as agreed. Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement. The sole responsibility lies with Hamas,” Netanyahu said in a statement on X.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
“We will be unable to move forward with the framework until we receive the list of the hostages who will be released, as was agreed. Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement. Hamas is solely responsible.”
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) January 18, 2025
Israel had expected to receive the names by 4 p.m. local time Saturday, now more than three hours ago. Netanyahu in a statement says that “Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement.”
Hamas was to give the names to mediator Qatar. There is no immediate Qatar response to questions. There is no immediate Hamas response, either.
Israel’s Cabinet approved the deal early on Saturday; the ceasefire will see the first hostages released.
Brokered by mediators the United States, Qatar and Egypt in months of indirect talks between the