Israel-Hamas hostage deal begins after three-hour delay

Daily Report January 19,2025


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The long-anticipated cease-fire between Israel and Hamas took effect Sunday morning, following a tense delay when Hamas initially failed to provide the list of hostages scheduled for release. After a three-hour delay, the militant group finally disclosed the names.

According to the Times of Israel, Hamas announced it would free Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher as part of the negotiated agreement with Israeli officials. Israeli authorities confirmed receiving these names, though the exact timing of the women’s release remained uncertain.

The agreement nearly collapsed earlier when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Hamas for not releasing the hostage list before the scheduled start time. This delay prompted Israeli forces to conduct strikes in Gaza, reportedly resulting in casualties.

Israeli officials declared the agreement active at 11:15 a.m. local time. These three women represent the first group among 33 hostages – including women, children, and men under 50 – who are set to be freed during the initial phase of the three-stage agreement finalized Thursday in Doha.

All three civilians were captured during Hamas’s October 7 attack. Gonen, a 23-year-old waitress at an upscale Tel Aviv restaurant, was wounded and taken while attending the Nova music festival. Her family describes her as beloved by friends and customers, calling her “one of the funniest girls I know.”

Both Damari, 28, who holds dual UK citizenship, and Steinbrecher, 30, were taken from their residences in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Damari remains the only British captive in Hamas custody.

The deal includes Israel’s release of numerous Palestinian prisoners, including all women and children detained since October 7. Additionally, the agreement encompasses a six-week pause in hostilities and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, including food and medical supplies.

Israeli forces will establish a buffer zone near the border, allowing displaced Palestinians to return home. The agreement’s second phase, set to begin 16 days after the ceasefire, faces significant challenges. Israel must withdraw all forces from Gaza – a condition they’ve resisted without Hamas’s complete dismantlement. Conversely, Hamas refuses to release remaining hostages while Israeli forces remain present.

Netanyahu addressed these concerns Saturday night, characterizing the pause as “temporary” and asserting U.S. support for renewed military action if second-phase negotiations fail. “If we do have to resume fighting, we will do so in new ways and with very great power,” he stated.

The final phase would involve exchanging remains and initiating Gaza’s long-term reconstruction. This marks the first pause in fighting since November 2023, following the October 7 attack that claimed approximately 1,200 Israeli lives and resulted in roughly 250 hostages.

Both President Biden and Trump claimed credit for brokering the deal. Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, reportedly played a crucial role, with a senior Biden official telling Reuters that Witkoff’s pressure on Netanyahu during recent meetings “shifted everything into motion.”

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