Sun Jan 19 09:36:42 UTC 2025: ## Gaza Truce Delayed, Then Takes Effect Amidst Continued Israeli Strikes
**Jerusalem, January 19, 2025** – A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, initially scheduled for 0630 GMT, commenced at 11:15 a.m. local time after a nearly three-hour delay. The delay, ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was attributed to Israel’s demand to receive a confirmed list of hostages to be released before the truce began. During the delay, Israeli strikes killed eight Palestinians, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency.
The agreement, brokered by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt, will see the release of 33 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The initial 42-day truce is part of a larger deal aimed at ending over 15 months of conflict, triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel – the deadliest in the nation’s history. The first phase will see the release of 737 Palestinian prisoners, according to Israel, and over 1,890 according to Egypt.
The delay caused widespread distress among displaced Palestinians in Gaza who were attempting to return home. Reports emerged of civilians being caught in the continued Israeli strikes during the delay, adding to the already desperate situation. One displaced Gazan, Maha Abed, expressed her despair at the delay and the continued shelling, stating, “I’m dying of despair…The drones are firing at civilians.”
Despite the initial celebrations in Gaza City upon the announcement of the ceasefire, the delay brought renewed frustration and fear. The Israeli military warned Gazans not to approach its forces or territory. Meanwhile, in Tel Aviv, families of hostages anxiously awaited their return.
The truce, which takes effect on the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration as US President, was described as a “temporary ceasefire” by Netanyahu, who indicated that Israel reserves the right to resume hostilities after the 42-day period. Aid deliveries, including fuel, are expected to begin flowing into Gaza following the ceasefire. A previous, shorter truce took place in November 2023, also involving hostage exchanges.
First Piper 