Ceasefire begins, pausing devastating Israel-Gaza war

Published: 2:04pm, 19 Jan 2025Updated: 7:57pm, 19 Jan 2025

Fighting in the Gaza Strip halted on Sunday as a ceasefire deal between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas took effect after a brief delay, pausing a 15-month-old war that has brought devastation and seismic political change to the Middle East.

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Residents and a medical worker in Gaza said they had heard no new fighting or military strikes since about half an hour before it was finally implemented.

Israeli air strikes, artillery and tank attacks continued in northern Gaza after the initial deadline of 0630 GMT, Gaza-based paramedics said, killing at least 13 Palestinians and wounding dozens more before the ceasefire actually took effect at 0915 GMT (1115am local time).

Israel’s military said it had carried out air and artillery strikes against “terror targets”.

Israel blamed Hamas for the delay after the Palestinian militant group failed to provide a list naming the first three hostages it would release later on Sunday as part of the agreement.

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“Hamas was obliged to provide the names of the first female hostages to be released at 4pm yesterday,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told journalists shortly after the ceasefire started. “We received the list over 18 hours after it was due.”

Hamas said “technical” reasons had caused the delay, without elaborating.

  

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