By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
SvennoJ on 18 January 2025
Edit Thread

Main events from Janurari 17th

  • The Israeli government has officially ratified a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, approving the deal after a six-hour-long cabinet meeting, which ended in the early hours of Saturday morning.
  • Some 24 ministers reportedly voted in favour of the deal, while eight ministers voted against, a reporter from the Axios news outlet said, citing an Israeli cabinet member.
  • Under the deal, which is bitterly opposed by far-right cabinet hardliners, a six-week ceasefire is due to take effect on Sunday, with the first of a series of Israeli captive and Palestinian prisoner exchanges also taking place that day.
  • Israel’s Justice Ministry has published the names of 95 Palestinians slated for release, but the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs said the list is not to be trusted.
  • The Palestinian Authority, which claims legal and political jurisdiction over Gaza, has said it is ready to assume its “full responsibilities” in the Strip and “alleviate the suffering of the people” there.
  • Israel’s assault on Gaza, which has seen at least 116 people killed since Wednesday when the ceasefire agreement was announced, looks set to continue until the truce comes into force.


Israeli cabinet officially approves Gaza ceasefire deal

As we have been reporting, the cabinet of Prime Minister Netanyahu met on Friday night to vote on whether to approve the Gaza ceasefire deal successfully negotiated with Hamas earlier this week.

Netanyahu’s office has now announced that, after a six-hour-long cabinet meeting that ended in the early hours of Saturday morning, the Israeli government has ratified the ceasefire.

A reporter from the Axios news outlet, citing an Israeli cabinet member, said in a post on X that 24 ministers voted in favour, while eight ministers voted against.

Under the deal, which is bitterly opposed by some far-right cabinet hardliners, a six-week ceasefire is due to take effect on Sunday.

The first of a series of Israeli captive and Palestinian prisoner exchanges could also take place that day, opening the way to ending the 15-month war.



Israeli army activity in Lebanon hinders UN peacekeeping efforts: UNIFIL

UN Underecretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix says that today, seven weeks after the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect, most UN peacekeeping personnel in Lebanon “remain confined to base and, on occasion, must seek shelter in bunkers due to nearby [Israeli army] military activity”.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was attacked by the Israeli army multiple times during its nearly two-month war in Lebanon.

“UNIFIL’s operational activities are further constrained due to the presence of unexploded ordnance, [Israeli army] roadblocks at various locations in the area of operations, and interference from local individuals,” Lacroix continued.

“Despite these challenges, the mission is increasing the number and intensity of its operations,” he added.