Synopsis
On January 19, Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed the initiation of a ceasefire in Gaza, coinciding with the planned release of three hostages. The announcement follows successful mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., aimed at addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.Key Takeaways
- Qatar confirmed the Gaza ceasefire has started.
- Three hostages' names were delivered to Israel.
- Humanitarian aid is being sent to Gaza.
- Intensive mediation was conducted by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S.
- 47,000 Palestinian casualties reported since October 7, 2023.
Doha, Jan 19 (NationPress) The Spokesperson for Qatar's Foreign Ministry, Majed Al Ansari, announced on Sunday that the ceasefire in Gaza has officially commenced, following the delivery of a list containing three hostages scheduled for release to Israel.
"In relation to the timing of the Gaza ceasefire, we verify that the names of the three hostages to be released today have been provided to the Israeli authorities. These individuals include three Israeli citizens, one holding Romanian nationality and another holding British nationality, thus marking the commencement of the ceasefire," Al-Ansari communicated via a post on X, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
On the previous day, Al-Ansari had stated that the ceasefire in Gaza would begin on Sunday, Jan. 19, at 8:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT).
Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on a ceasefire exchange for hostages on Wednesday, following extensive mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
Additionally, Egypt has resumed sending humanitarian aid trucks into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing, following the initiation of the recently established ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, as reported by Egyptian State TV.
An initial convoy of 95 aid trucks has crossed into Gaza, with around 500 more expected to follow throughout the day, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.
Egypt's Minister of Health, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, along with Minister of Social Solidarity, Maya Morsy, arrived at Arish Airport early Saturday to ensure hospitals are prepared to treat injured Gazans and to oversee the final arrangements for aid delivery to Gaza, as stated by the Egyptian state news agency.
Reports from AlQahera News Channel indicated that numerous aid trucks were waiting at the Rafah border crossing, ready to enter Gaza, carrying tens of thousands of essential food supplies for the residents.
Arish, along with its airport in North Sinai, functions as a crucial hub for the receipt and transportation of international relief aid into Gaza.
Aid deliveries have faced interruptions since May 2024, when Israeli forces took control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing.
Qatar announced a three-stage ceasefire agreement late Wednesday to conclude more than 15 months of intense Israeli assaults on the Gaza Strip.
Since October 7, 2023, nearly 47,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have lost their lives, and over 110,700 have sustained injuries in what has been termed a genocidal campaign by Israeli forces against Gaza, according to local health authorities.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Furthermore, Israel is currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice concerning its military actions in the enclave.
