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Gaza ceasefire takes effect, halts 15-month conflict

  • 19/01/25

A ceasefire deal between Israel and the Gaza-based Palestinian militant group Hamas took effect today, 19 January, pausing a 15-month war that has brought foundational political change to the Middle East and threatened global shipping lanes.

A suspension of hostilities entered into effect at 11:15 local time (09:15 GMT), Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said, later than the 08:30 initially planned. The near three-hour delay was down to Israel's insistence that Hamas provided the names of three female Israeli hostages it plans to hand over today.

The ceasefire was first announced by Qatar and the US, which, along with Egypt, have been mediating negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The deal is planned to take place in three phases. The first, which will last for six weeks, will involve a temporary ceasefire and see Hamas release 33 hostages, among them women, the elderly and wounded Israeli and US citizens, US President Joe Biden said.

In return, Israel will release "hundreds" of prisoners in its custody, while Israeli troops will withdraw from populated areas, Biden said.

If implemented fully, the agreement should help reduce tensions in a region that has seen Israel clash directly with Iran for the first time ever, and with Tehran's proxies in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.

Signs of de-escalation are underway in the region. The Yemen-based Houthi militant group said on 16 January it will monitor implementation of the temporary ceasefire deal, but will remain prepared for military action if the deal is breached. These remarks suggest a halt in the Iran-backed group's campaign against Israel directly and against shipping passing through the mouth of the Red Sea, raising the possibility of a reprieve for shipping lanes there.

But shipping firms are likely to remain cautious about returning to the Red Sea.

The conflict in Gaza was triggered in October 2023 when Hamas staged a surprise cross-border attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 Israelis and others and kidnapping 250. Israel responded by invading Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 46,000 people.


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