Israel says ceasefire agreement with Hamas begins, after 3-hour delay
The Hindu
Israel announces truce with Hamas in Gaza after last-minute delay, exchange of hostages to follow.
Israel on Sunday (January 19, 2025) said a truce with Hamas began in Gaza at 0915 GMT, nearly three hours after initially scheduled, following a last-minute delay on the orders of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
During the delay, Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli strikes killed eight people.
Israel-Hamas ceasefire LIVE updates
A statement from Netanyahu’s office, issued less than an hour before the truce had been 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 attributed the delay to “technical reasons”, as well as the “complexities of the field situation and the continued bombing”, ultimately publishing at around 10:30 a.m. the names of three Israeli women to be released on Sunday.
Israel confirmed it had received the list and was “checking the details”, before confirming shortly afterwards that the truce would begin at 11:15 a.m. local time.
AFPTV live images from northeastern Gaza showed a plume of grey smoke about 30 minutes after the truce was earlier to take effect, and again around 30 minutes later.
Lithuania quits cluster bomb convention due to Russia fears, drawing criticism from human rights groups.
Shorts News:Watch: ‘Biden didn’t even try’: White House on arrest of Kabul airport attack mastermind
Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to visit Sri Lanka in April, focusing on bilateral meetings and launching a solar power plant.
Rare tropical cyclone Alfred lashes eastern Australia, schools closed, public transport halted, residents buy potting mix for sandbags.
Trump accuses Trudeau of using trade war to stay in power, sparking tensions between US and Canada.
The U.S. on Wednesday announced indictments against a slew of alleged Chinese hackers.
Pope Francis receives ashes on Ash Wednesday, increases physical therapy, and remains stable during hospitalization for pneumonia.
History of Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine conflict escalates as U.S. shifts policy, Europe struggles, and Russia advances, leaving Ukraine in dire straits.
Trump administration plans to cut 80,000 employees from Veterans Affairs, according to internal memo
VA plans to cut over 80,000 jobs to return to 2019 staffing levels, sparking concern among veterans and lawmakers.
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau refuses to lift tariffs on the U.S. if Trump maintains tariffs on Canada.
European Commissioner for Defence and Space discusses EU-India partnership, regulatory simplification, and security challenges in Indo-Pacific.
Fierce fighting in Myanmar displaces 4,000 people near China-backed port, escalating conflict in Rakhine state.
Bannu mourns after twin suicide bombing at military base kills 18, including 5 soldiers, in northwestern Pakistan.