Updated on January 19 at 7:04 pm EST
The Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas took effect Sunday morning, leading to Hamas releasing the first three hostages out of the 33 they’re expected to free in the first phase of the deal, which involves a 42-day truce.
The three female hostages were handed over to the Red Cross, which said they were in good health and transferred them to the Israeli military. The hostages made it back to Israel, and early Monday morning, Israel released 90 Palestinian women and children from the Ofer Prison in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in exchange.
Out of the 90 Palestinians who were freed, 78 of them are West Bank residents, while 12 will be transferred to Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem.
In the occupied territories, Palestinians can be imprisoned without charges, which Israel calls “administrative detention.” Under the first phase of the ceasefire deal, Israel will release 30 Palestinians per civilian hostage and 50 Palestinians in exchange for female IDF soldiers.
The Israeli military has imposed strict measures in areas around the Ofer Prison to prevent major celebrations from taking place during the prisoner release. According to Middle East Eye, the military ordered shops near the prison to be closed, and the police have warned families not to celebrate or raise Palestinian flags, threatening the release could be canceled.
Al Jazeera later reported that at least seven Palestinians had been wounded by Israeli forces outside of Ofer prison.
The ceasefire in Gaza was supposed to go into effect at 8:30 am Gaza time, but it was delayed three hours, and during that time, Israeli strikes pounded the Strip, killing at least 19 Palestinians. Among the dead were children preparing to return home because their family thought the ceasefire had started at 8:30.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said Sunday that its death toll since October 2023 had reached 46,913, and the number of wounded climbed to 110,750. The Health Ministry typically only counts dead and wounded Palestinians brought to hospitals, meaning their numbers don’t account for the thousands who are missing and presumed dead under the rubble.
A new study published in The Lancet found the Health Ministry’s numbers were a significant undercount, likely by 41%. The study said that as of October 2024, the true death toll was likely over 70,000, which only accounts for violent deaths, not indirect deaths caused by the US-backed Israeli siege.
Yesterday:
Tens of thousands defy police on Palestine march in London
Activists broke through police lines after the police tried to stop them from marching
https://socialistworker.co.uk/palestine-2023/tens-of-thousands-defy-police-on-palestine-march-in-london/
Words, pics, video: the ‘terrifying and brutal’ arrest of Stop the War founder Chris Nineham
Videos:
https://skwawkbox.org/2025/01/18/words-pics-video-the-terrifying-and-brutal-arrest-of-stop-the-war-founder-chris-nineham/
The ceasefire in Gaza was supposed to go into effect at 8:30 am Gaza time, but it was delayed three hours, and during that time, Israeli strikes pounded the Strip, killing at least 19 Palestinians. Among the dead were children preparing to return home because their family thought the ceasefire had started at 8:30.
Now, who are the real fucking terrorists? Israel. Second to NONE. NONE.
You got that right.
What is the over/under in days before American-made 2,000 bombs rain on Gaza again?
We can guess who wanted the delay, don't we?
And who was the cause of the delay terrorist lover?
But of course. Why not go out and kill some kids because there is a delay. Do you even listen to yourself you fucking piece of shit?
The terrorists of Israel and the USA were the cause of the delay in order to kill some more children.
The coming days will show how reliable Trump is, if and how he will force the Zionists to keep the agreement. In essence, how serious Trump is beyond his inauguration celebration.
As always, Johnny did it. As expected.
Are you against Israhell's right to celebrate?
In Israel vocabulary… celebration means killing more palistinians…!
unbelievable! what a loathsome being. There's nothing for him but kill himself and the superior who ordered it.
This would be the inauguration of Palestinian Resistance in Gaza today…!
"because their family thought the ceasefire had started at 8:30" That is stupid, but par for the course. Palestinians lack of concern for their children safety during war continued right up to this pause.
I am sure you were thoroughly tormented watching al jazeera as the Qassam fighters swarmed the streets, cheered on by their people in celebration. It must've been painful to see the three female captives come out smiling and healthy-looking. Anything that doesn't square with your racist mindset you say is stupid. Your just a parrot of that old racist Israeli hag that said something like "We can forgive them for killing our children but we can't forgive them for making us kill theirs." May the wickedness you express against innocent people come back to haunt you. People like you go to their graves oblivious to the harm they cause others and to the payback that awaits them, whether in this life or the next. Do you have children Tim?
Karma comes back and hunt him at some point in his miserable life…!
But honestly it perturbed me, after all this time and discussions people can be so callous. If innocents die it's because they're stupid, not because they were murdered in cold blood for some vain worldview of how some people are so special beyond the rest of humanity.
Zionism is Nothing but a Cult…!
We can only hope.
Collective hope is the power of conscious…!
"Do you have children Tim?"
Curiously, considering "Tim's" repulsive personality and clearly miserable existence, that question has occurred to me too.
And, ridicule aside, I sincerely doubt that individual is humanly capable of having children.
And only someone completely lacking in empathy would say something so vile. You've sunk to a new level. Blaming Palestinians because Israel slaughtered their children can't get any lower. I seriously hope that something horrendous happens to you and if you have any kids think about what you just said. You really should be ashamed of yourself, and Knapp should ban you on principle.
A new year should always follow up with new bans…!
Actually no. I hope nothing bad ever happens to Major Burns, and that he lives to 120 years old with all his cognitive abilities (such as they are) intact.
THAT way, he'll have DECADES of life left to watch as the world (except for him) comes to the obvious conclusion that everything he ever said, thought, espoused was hateful, false, racist bulls**t.
And he'll live a long time knowing and seeing and hearing how he was (and continues to be) on the wrong side of history and an unmitigated f**king embarrassment to himself and everyone who ever knew him.
Day after day after day, for another half century or better, of everyone looking at him with scorn & pity & loathing for what a f**king waste of intellectual space he is.
I actually want this for George W. Bush as well. A long life as a walking joke – a Top 5 seed for Worst Presidents in US History. And for him to see and hear everyone say it.
They were hoping desperately wanting to believe in humanity. Can you understand how hopeless people reach out to believe? I don't think you can.
The emergence of Qassam fighters in Gaza and the north brought thousands of cheering Palestinians to the city Square where the captives were released. Israelis who had banned aljazeera were glued to aljazeera online dismayed at the show of force from Hamas. They were told 20 out of 24 battalions were destroyed. They were shocked to see the three female captives were smiling and in good health. No claim of torture. Worse than the slaughter of these 15 months is the failure of Israel to achieve its goals and "cleanse" the Gaza Strip of Palestinians. After all that mayhem Palestinians were celebrating in Gaza and the West Bank. Even in my city in the US, Middle East shops were handing out kanafi sweets.
"The Israeli military has imposed strict measures in areas around the Ofer Prison to prevent major celebrations from taking place during the prisoner release. According to Middle East Eye, the military ordered shops near the prison to be closed, and the police have warned families not to celebrate or raise Palestinian flags, threatening the release could be canceled."
WHY? The three released Israeli women appeared physically as well as could be expected, they were not tortured or mistreated.
The same could not be said about the Palestinian prisoners last time.
To know as much as we do know, to allow journalists to come and report and show their physical conditions, would be like opening Jeffrey Dahmer's refrigerator and report and take photos of what is in it. My son said it.
see above…!
"''[P]olice have warned families not to celebrate or raise Palestinian flags, threatening the release could be canceled.'
WHY? The…released Israeli women appeared physically as well as could be expected, they were not tortured or mistreated.
The same could not be said about…Palestinian prisoners last time."
Why menace Israeli Palestinians w/canceling the exchange if they displayed any pleasure at the release of Palestinians from a horrific prison?
["Israeli doctor says detained Palestinians are undergoing ‘routine’ amputations for handcuff injuries," CNN]
Because in Zionist-ville, Israeli hostages are saintly victims, but Palestinian prisoners are subhuman terrorist scum – so public sympathy or happiness or relief at their release – above all by Israeli Palestinians – is forbidden.
What? Saintly versus scum? That's gotta' be exaggeration? Hardly: read the Knesset member ridicule – across the political spectrum – of an Arab lawmaker who said he was glad for the release of both Israelis and Palestinian prisoners:
"Lawmakers slam Arab MK for saying he’s ‘happy for release of hostages and prisoners’" (Times of Israel)
If they allowed journalists to report it would be like allowing journalists to open Jeffrey Dahmer’s refrigerator and freezer and report and show what is in it.
"like allowing journalists to open Jeffrey Dahmer's refrigerator and freezer and report and show-"
ah…lys? hon? that freezer says ODELE'S GAZA MEAT LOCKER on it…i'd get outa there real fast if i was you…
Please pray for me, I did not notice his name on it, honestly.
Ajazeera reports that at least 25 of the palestinians released today, have been arrested again! what a charade this 'historic' moment is. I predict israel will just keep on killing people througout this ceasefire and then get back to full blown genocide.
Netanyahu already said that both Biden and Trump told him that he can start shooting again after the Ceasefire. If true or not does not matter to Bibi adn the Israel lobby. Their propaganda is top notch and has been since 1948.
This is nothing more than Israel admitting to a Silent Defeat…!
Re Israel prohibiting "celebrat[ing] or rais[ing] Palestinian flags" as prisoners are released":
"Silent" admission of defeat? See yr point – and below shows the insular chauvinist mentality of the Zionist state too – what happens if you say you're glad for release of hostages and prisoners in same breath:
"Lawmakers slam Arab MK for saying he’s ‘happy for release of hostages and prisoners’" (Times of Israel)
90 for 3. That is the current exchange ratio. One Israelian is worth 30 Palestinians.
Indeed, they are very precious to us Muslims every time they go venturing out and get slaughtered in Europe or at home by fanatical Christians, we save them and make sure they stick around. Their arrogance and ungratefulness is a valuable lesson for us not to be like them in order to avoid their hapless fate and suffering.
Better than what you offer. By your metrics, Palestinian lives are worthless.
Only 33!? What happened to the rest of them!? …Never mind. …I should have known you would have more propaganda for that.
Do we, or anyone, know how many hostages remain in Hamassian custody ? I should like to know what percentage these 33 represent.
“That’s the way the World goes round!… You’re up one day, the next your down! There’s a half an inch of water and you think you’re gonna drown, that’s the way that the world goes round!”…
I think Hamas has to hold back to see the Israeli response first. Thousands of Palestinians have been imprisoned by the Israelis for years including children.
They have been tortured and are not in good health. That much we do know.
Hamas will abide by the agreement. Israel and the US will not. SSDD.
"Doctors may face dietary challenges with freed hostages after almost 500 days" (Jerusalem Post):
Yet another bestial abuse! Subjecting hostages to the post-October 7 food intake of Gazans – a diet so calorie-deprived that…why a child couldn't survive it long!
Yes. The mob climbing onto the Red Cross vehicles transporting the 3 Israeli hostages looked malnourished and on the verge of starvation.
"The mob climbing onto the Red Cross vehicles transporting the 3 Israeli hostages looked malnourished and on the verge of starvation."
but not walking skeletons, like in the I❤️️Buchenwald poster over yr bed? bummer.
You can do better than that Abramawicz
He already upped his game.
Now, up yours.
Another moron who gets a glimpse of a tiny portion of the population that isn't malnourished or a hollowed out starving skeleton and thinks that must mean that no one is malnourished or starving. When a good portion of 2.3 million residents were already food insecure BEFORE the onslaught, with 500 trucks per day entering the strip, why would anyone expect those 2.3 million people to be anything but healthy and robust when the average trucks per day entering the strip is less than 100? Add to that the filthy water, which was already over 90% contaminated BEFORE the onslaught, and you have conditions ripe for any number of diseases to spread. Again. do you listen to yourself?
Right again imbecile. And that has nothing to do with Hamas stealing most of the supplies entering the Strip and selling them back to the Gazans at exorbitant prices.
That's what Israel's and US propaganda fed to you and you ate it with gusto.
Of course. And they also fed us the “fake news” that Hamas leaders are billionaires and that Suha Arafat lives in Paris as a billionaire heiress
Which makes every atrocity Israel levies on the Palestinians on a daily basis as somehow just and noble. Am I right?
Arafat was born in Cairo Egypt to well to do parents, he studied in Egypt and could have lived a comfortable life. He was a Palestinian patriot, unlike Abbas.
Abbas is a coward exactly opposite of Arafat…!
Regarding Hamas. That is of course fake news because there is absolutely zero evidence that any of Hamas' leaders accumulated personal wealth. Absolutely zero.
The rumor was started by Zionist propganada because Hamas leaders were forced to move to Qatar after the situation in Syria. Qatar being a rich host nation provided them with handsome accommodations.
As for Suha Arafat, it's true that accusations of financial impropriety have followed her around. It is unclear what Arafat controlled for the cause and what he bequeathed to his wife and daughter, his only heirs. I wouldn't doubt there was mishandling of funds.
Oh, so there is malnourishment and starvation after all? But never mind the fraction of aid that is getting into Gaza since the slaughter began, as compared to before, as long as you can somehow pin it on Hamas. Because it doesn't matter if the number of trucks entering Gaza aren't even close to being enough to sustain the lives of 2.3 million people. It can't be Israel's fault. You really are a tool.
Which troll are you replacing? I am sure you will not last long here. Posters here are thinking people, basing their believes on credible evidence and research.
If name calling is your only contribution it makes you look cheap and without any credibility.
Who on earth would look at the inane drivel of joke, Major Burns, the late D. Donald Julio, Kristoff Lox, and say "Ooooh, me too !" ?????
The "late" Donald Julio?
I’m told he’s still alive, but has been banned from pretty much every “section” of Disqus in use on this site (was given to understand AW has more than one Disqus comment forum).
Many thanks, I noticed the big turnover of trolls.
"I'm told [Don Julio's] still alive, but has been banned from pretty much every 'section' of Disqus-"
i heard he finally got his dream job – stolen human organ trade – but botched a delivery and…well, the surgeon was not so happy…
OMG, LOL!
LOL!
You paid by the lie, or salaried ? You score a bonus every time you deliver 10 nautical tons of horses**t by way of Disqus ?
"Hamas stealing most…supplies entering the Strip and selling them back to the Gazans at exorbitant prices."
you keep posting that claim, but never support it.
why is that?
He has absolutely no proof for that whatsoever. Zero. Israel used corrupt gangs and families to try to steal the little shipments of aid that were coming and Hamas was able to shut that down as well.
Trying to picture the average Gazan pulling out a wad of cash to pay for stolen aid. Kind of hard to do. And since such a small fraction of aid is getting in, why wouldn't Hamas keep it for themselves instead of selling it back to the Gazans?
"Trying to picture the average Gazan pulling out a wad of cash to pay for stolen aid. Kind of hard to do."
yup. right off – like the 'infant beheadings' biden first claimed he saw pics of – it has the hysteric, dirty ring of atrocity propaganda;
and then yr 'what's-wrong-with-this-picture' reasoning points up the implausibility…the actual stupidness…of the claim.
That's just not a serious statement. Any proof for that?
"Another moron who [glimpses] a tiny portion of the population that isn't malnourished or a…starving skeleton and thinks that must mean that no one is malnourished or starving."
A moron who got a glimpse and, on that basis, moronically sez 'no malnutrition/hunger here'?
Don't think so – like other aspects of the ethnic cleansing-genocide, it's been well-documented in reports and news – including AW.
Nupe, yr interlocutor is posting in bad faith – knows it's starvation, is into the starvation, but – like Israel and the US – straight up lies.
UN Report: Over 570,000 People Starving in Gaza, Israel using starvation as weapon of war (AW 12/23)
'Israel Is Starving Gaza': Israeli Rights Group B’Tselem [Report], 1/24
New report on hunger in Gaza adds fuel to calls for lifting Israeli restrictions on aid (NYT, 6/24)
Smotrich: May Be ‘Moral and Justified’ for Israel to Starve 2 Mil Palestinians to Death in Gaza…says Israel allowing aid only because of international pressure (AW 8/24)
Gaza Still Being Deliberately Starved to Death (AW 11/24)
I am very cautiously optimistic on hearing this news – maybe this ceasefire can hold.
Yet I am reminded of the story in Arthurian legend of the final battle between King Arthur and a dangerous foe. Merlin warned Arthur that the battle must not begin until Sir Lancelot arrives from his place of distant retirement.
With both sides tense and immediately ready for battle, with Lancelot soon to arrive, the witch Morgan le Fay summons a small serpent in the midst of Arthur's foot soldiers. It catches the eye of a swordsman who, as a reflex, draws his sword to kill it. The opposing side takes this as provocation and the devastating battle starts prematurely, and ends badly for Arthur.
I wonder if it will be Trump, Netanyahu, or one of the ministers of the Apartheid State of Israel who will play the part of the witch Morgan, tempting Hamas into a minor action to justify resumption of genocide.
Whatever the resumption of genocide source, or whoever the witch is…Hamas would be ready to confront Israel…!