Active Stocks
Fri Feb 14 2025 15:59:54
  1. Tata Motors share price
  2. 680.25 -0.50%
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 134.40 -1.32%
  1. Axis Bank share price
  2. 996.75 -1.14%
  1. State Bank Of India share price
  2. 722.00 -0.73%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 410.55 0.18%
Business News/ News / World/  Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Highlights: France to keep fighting for release of French-Israeli hostages
BackBack

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Highlights: France to keep fighting for release of French-Israeli hostages

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Highlights: Hamas named the three hostages it plans to release on Sunday more than two hours after the ceasefire in Gaza was supposed to have begun. Israel had earlier said it would keep fighting until it received the names.

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE Updates: A Palestinian prisoner is welcomed by a relative upon the arrival of some 90 prisoners set free by Israel in the early hours of January 20 (Photo by AFP)Premium
Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE Updates: A Palestinian prisoner is welcomed by a relative upon the arrival of some 90 prisoners set free by Israel in the early hours of January 20 (Photo by AFP)

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Highlights: Three Israeli hostages released on Sunday from Gaza were reunited with their families. 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were also released early on Monday, hours after three Israeli hostages were released from Hamas captivity.  As the ceasefire took effect, thousands of displaced, war-weary Palestinians set off across the devastated Gaza Strip to return home.

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal
Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire deal this week — temporarily pausing the devastating 15-month Gaza war. The deal sets in motion a long and uncertain process aimed at ultimately ending the war and returning nearly 100 hostages (abducted during the October 2023 Hamas attack) to Israel. The ceasefire had initially been slated to begin at 8:30 am local time on Sunday — around noon in India. 

Israeli airstrikes amid delay
Israeli airstrikes however continued on Sunday morning amid a delayed start to the temporary truce — killing at least eight people in the southern city of Khan Younis. Nasser Hospital confirmed that the attack took place around two hours after the truce was supposed to take effect. The Hamas-run Health Ministry reported three more deaths from strikes in Gaza City on Sunday.

The ceasefire was delayed by several hours on Sunday — purportedly because had Hamas failed to share the names of hostages who would be handed over on Sunday. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari — a top Israeli military spokesman — had also indicated that the army “continues to attack, even now, inside the Gaza arena" He contended that this would continue until Hamas complied with the agreement.

Why did the ceasefire deal start late?
Israel has blamed Hamas for the delay after the Palestinian militant group failed to provide a list naming the first three hostages to be released. Meanwhile Hamas attributed the delay to "technical" reasons without specifying details. A Palestinian official familiar with the matter told Reuters that the delay occurred because mediators had asked for 48 hours of "calm" before the ceasefire's implementation. However continued Israeli strikes right up until the deadline had made it difficult to send the list.

Catch live updates with Mint.

20 Jan 2025, 02:38:08 PM IST

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: Released Israeli hostage says she has 'returned to life'

One of the Israeli hostages freed on the first day of the Gaza ceasefire said Monday in her first comments since being released that she has “returned to life."

Emily Damari, 28, was one of three hostages freed Sunday after spending 471 days in captivity. Officials at a hospital that received them said their condition was stable.

In an Instagram story, which was shared by Israeli media, Damari thanked her family and the large protest movement that coalesced to advocate for the release of the hostages. “Thank you thank you thank you I’m the happiest in the world," she said.

20 Jan 2025, 01:52:32 PM IST

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: France to keep fighting for release of French-Israeli hostages

France will keep fighting to obtain the release of the two French-Israeli nationals held by Hamas, foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot told BFM TV on Monday.

"We will continue to fight until the last hour for their release," Barrot told BFM TV, adding France had "no news on their health status nor on the terms of their detention".

20 Jan 2025, 01:49:55 PM IST

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: China 'welcomes' Gaza ceasefire coming into effect

China on Monday hailed the start of a long-awaited truce aimed at ending more than 15 months of war in Gaza.

"We hope that the agreement will be fully and continuously implemented, and that a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza will be achieved," Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing.

"China will continue to work with the international community to promote peace and stability in the Middle East," she said.

20 Jan 2025, 12:11:01 PM IST

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: ‘Emotional meetings between returnees and their families’ | Watch

Three hostages held by Hamas were released Sunday after 471 days in captivity as part of a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group. A gradual release of dozens of captives over the next several weeks has been agreed on.

20 Jan 2025, 10:31:34 AM IST

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: Who is Emily Damari, one of the three hostage who was released by Hamas

Emily Damari is a British-Israeli citizen kidnapped from her apartment on Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a communal farming village hit hard by Hamas' assault. She lived in a small apartment in a neighbourhood for young adults, the closest part of the kibbutz to Gaza. Militants broke through the border fence of the kibbutz and ransacked the neighborhood.

Damari's mother, Mandy, said she loves music, traveling, soccer, good food, karaoke and hats. Kibbutz Kfar Aza said that Damari was often the “glue that held her close-knit friend group together" and she was always organizing gatherings of friends around the best barbecue corner in the entire kibbutz.

20 Jan 2025, 08:28:27 AM IST

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: ‘Wait was extremely hard’, says Palestinian Journalist released from Israeli prison 

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: Bushra al-Tawil, a Palestinian journalist jailed in Israel in March 2024, was among the first batch of prisoners to be released in the truce. Tawil began her journey at 3 am the day before, when she was taken from her prison to another nearer the separation wall. There, she was grouped with other inmates awaiting movement.

"The wait was extremely hard. But thank God, we were certain that at any moment we would be released," she said.

20 Jan 2025, 08:10:11 AM IST

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: Israel-Hamas epic ceasefire result of historic victory in November: Trump at MAGA Victory Rally

Calling the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas a "first step" towards lasting peace in the Middle East, US President-elect Donald Trump claimed that the "epic" agreement could happen "only" due to his historic victory in November presidential polls.

"The first hostages have just been released... Biden said that they made the deal, well... First of all, it (the Israel-Hamas conflict) would have never happened if I were the President," he added.

During the rally, Trump shared his plans to address border security and illegal immigration and emphasised the importance of reasserting control over US borders, stating, "We will quickly re-establish control of our sovereign territory and borders."

20 Jan 2025, 07:24:39 AM IST

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: All you need to know about Romi Gonen, hostage who was freed by Gaza

Romi Gonen was kidnapped from the Nova music festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. That morning, Gonen's mother, Merav, and her eldest daughter spent nearly five hours speaking to Gonen as militants marauded through the festival grounds. Gonen told her family that roads clogged with abandoned cars made escape impossible and that she would seek shelter in some bushes.

Over the past 15 months, Merav Gonen has been one of the most outspoken voices advocating for the return of the hostages, appearing nearly daily on Israeli news programs and traveling abroad on missions.

20 Jan 2025, 06:51:57 AM IST

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: Who are the 3 Israelis released on the first day of the ceasefire?

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: Three hostages held by Hamas were released Sunday after 471 days in captivity as part of a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group. 

Who are the three hostages?

1. Romi Gonen, 24

2. Emily Damari, 28

3. Doron Steinbrecher, 31

20 Jan 2025, 06:41:12 AM IST

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: Israel releases 90 Palestinian prisoners after Hamas frees 3 Israeli hostages

Israel has freed 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The release came early on Monday, more than seven hours after three Israeli hostages released from Hamas captivity in Gaza returned to Israel.

A large bus carrying dozens of Palestinian detainees exited the gates of Israel’s Ofer prison, just outside the West Bank city of Ramallah.

20 Jan 2025, 06:38:58 AM IST

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: 'Last 471 days have been a living nightmare’, says relative of freed British hostage

A relative of freed British hostage Emily Damari said the last 471 days have been “a living nightmare", adding that the joy of seeing her with her mother was “just overwhelming". 

19 Jan 2025, 10:51:21 PM IST

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: Next set of hostages to be released on Saturday

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: The next group of Gaza hostages to be released under a ceasefire agreement with Israel will be freed on Saturday, a senior Hamas official told AFP on Sunday after the initial release of three women. An official announcement has not been made.

"The release of the second batch of Israeli prisoners (hostages) will take place on the evening of next Saturday, the seventh day from the start of the ceasefire agreement," the official said. 

19 Jan 2025, 10:18:17 PM IST

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: Netanyahu hails return of hostages

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: Three female Israelis were freed by Hamas on Sunday before being transferred by the Red Cross to the Israel Defense Forces in the Gaza strip. They will now be transported to a border-adjacent location that was prepared in advance for their receipt, where they will be met by their family. From there they will be flown by military helicopters to hospitals across Israel.

“The Israeli government embraces the three returnees. Their families were informed by the appointed officials that they joined our (IDF) forces. The Israeli government is committed to the return of all abductees and missing persons," said a statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

19 Jan 2025, 10:05:49 PM IST

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: France's Emmanuel Macron calls for 'Palestinian governance' 

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: French President Emmanuel Macron has told Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas that a return to Palestinian governance was needed in Gaza.

According to his office, the French leader said this should "fully incorporate the Palestinian Authority" and that Gaza's future should be aimed at the creation of a Palestinian state. He also stressed the need to ensure that "no massacre, like the one perpetrated on October 7 (2023), can ever be committed against the Israeli people again". 

19 Jan 2025, 09:46:05 PM IST

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: UN says first post-ceasefire aid trucks have entered enclave

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip on Sunday after a long-awaited truce came into effect. UN aid official Jonathan Whittall said the "first trucks of supplies started entering" minutes after the ceasefire took effect on Sunday morning. The interim chief of the UN's OCHA aid agency for the Palestinian territories also highlighted the “massive effort" underway to ensure aid in Gaza.

“A massive effort has been underway over the past days from humanitarian partners to load and prepare to distribute a surge of aid across all of Gaza," he wrote on X.

19 Jan 2025, 09:42:31 PM IST

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: US President Joe Biden welcomes truce

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE:  US President Joe Biden welcomed the Gaza truce on Sunday — adding that the region had been 'fundamentally transformed'. He also said that 'the guns in Gaza have gone silent' under the ceasefire deal he had first outlined in May. The outgoing POTUS also said that hundreds of trucks were entering the seaside enclave to help its civilians.

19 Jan 2025, 09:32:09 PM IST

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: IDF says hostages ‘are home’ after 15 months in captivity

19 Jan 2025, 09:31:39 PM IST

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire LIVE: IDF accompanies hostages to Israel

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: The Israeli Defence Forces said that the three hostages were currently being transferred home. 

“The 3 released hostages are currently being transferred to IDF and ISA forces in Gaza. They are accompanied by IDF and ISA special forces upon their return to Israeli territory, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment," the IDF wrote on X.

19 Jan 2025, 09:14:12 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: ‘Hostages transferred to the Red Cross,’ says IDF

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Israeli Defence Forces have shared that the three women hostages have been transferred to Red Cross and are making their way to Isareli's security authority. In a statement, IDF said, “According to information received from the Red Cross, 3 Israeli hostages were transferred to the Red Cross and they are on their way toward IDF and ISA forces in Gaza."

19 Jan 2025, 08:52:20 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Footage of Red Cross convoy heading to collect hostages

19 Jan 2025, 07:53:20 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Red Cross convoy en route to pick up hostages

A Red Cross convoy is on its way to pick up the first Israeli hostages in Gaza. According to Israeli media, the army has asked the mothers of the three hostages to come to a meeting point at a base next to the Gaza border. It is not clear how long the process will take before the hostages will be handed over.

 

19 Jan 2025, 06:41:49 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Palestinians trek across rubble to return home

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Palestinians in the war-battered Gaza Strip began returning to the remains of the homes on Sunday — even before the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was fully in place. Israeli military bombardment has flattened large swathes of Gaza and displaced 1.9 million of its 2.3 million residents. 

Even before the ceasefire officially took effect — and as tank shelling continued overnight and into the morning — many Palestinians began trekking through the wreckage to reach their homes, some on foot and others hauling their belongings on donkey carts.

More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza over the past 15 months — more than half of them women and children. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 110,000 have been wounded Meanwhile The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants without providing evidence.

19 Jan 2025, 05:03:29 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Nearly 2000 Palestinian prisoners await release

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are set to be released as part of the agreement that took effect on Sunday.

19 Jan 2025, 04:46:46 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Pope Francis calls for truce to be 'immediately respected'

19 Jan 2025, 04:26:51 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Israel forces withdraw from Philadelphi border, Rafah and…

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Israel forces have withdrawn from the Philadelphi border, Rafah and other key areas in Gaza. Pro-Hamas media also reported early on Sunday that Israeli forces had started withdrawing from these key areas.

19 Jan 2025, 04:16:49 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Aid trucks arrive at Egyptian border point

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: A Reuters report quoting Egyptian security sources said 200 aid trucks — including 20 trucks carrying fuel —  had arrived at Kerem Shalom crossing ahead of entry into Gaza. They will reportedly operate in this manner until maintenance of Rafah crossing is completed.

19 Jan 2025, 04:12:23 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: At least 13 Palestinians killed amid delay in truce

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Israeli airstrikes continued on Sunday morning amid a delayed start to the temporary truce — killing at least eight people in the southern city of Khan Younis. Nasser Hospital confirmed that the attack took place around two hours after the truce was supposed to take effect. The Hamas-run Health Ministry reported three more deaths from strikes in Gaza City on Sunday.

According to Palestinian news agency Wafa, “violent shelling" occurred in Beit Hanoun and other areas in the northern part of the Strip. The publication said Israeli strikes had targeted Beit Lahiya, Gaza City and al-Bureij in Gaza. According to reports, dozens more were injured in the attacks.

19 Jan 2025, 03:57:17 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Will more hostages be released?

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: According to an update from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, four more female hostages are set to be released a week from now.

19 Jan 2025, 03:55:39 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Visuals from Gaza as displaced Palestinians walk homewards

Displaced Palestinians walk past the rubble as they attempt to return to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip
View Full Image
Displaced Palestinians walk past the rubble as they attempt to return to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip (REUTERS)
19 Jan 2025, 03:52:54 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Israel ‘retains right to resume war’ if ceasefire fails

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel reserved the right to resume fighting in Gaza with US support “if necessary".

Negotiations on the far more difficult second phase of this ceasefire should begin in just over two weeks. Major questions remain, including whether the war will resume after the six-week first phase and how the rest of the nearly 100 hostages in Gaza will be freed.

19 Jan 2025, 03:51:13 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Israeli foreign minister warns of ‘regional instability’ if Hamas remains in power

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Israel foreign minister Gideon Saar reiterated on Sunday that his government was committed to achieving its goals, including release of hostages and dismantling the governmental and military capabilities of Hamas. He also warned that regional instability would persist if Hamas stayed in power in Gaza.

19 Jan 2025, 03:46:52 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: UNRWA ready with 4000 trucks of humanitarian aid

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East said that it has “4,000 truckloads of aid ready to enter Gaza" with half of them carrying food and flour.

“Attacks on aid convoys in the Gaza Strip could decline as humanitarian relief comes in following a ceasefire," said UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini.

19 Jan 2025, 03:41:04 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Thousands of displaced Palestinians return home

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Thousands of displaced Gazans carrying tents, clothes and personal belongings began heading to their homes Sunday after a long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect after more than 15 months of war. AFP journalists also reported seeing Palestinians travelling by truck, donkey cart and on foot back to their homes through devastated swathes of Gaza, particularly in the northern parts of the Palestinian territory.

19 Jan 2025, 03:33:11 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: What has Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said?

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday afternoon that Israel has received the list of the hostages who are due to be released today according to the framework. He also noted that the security establishment was now checking the details.

19 Jan 2025, 03:31:25 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Who are the three hostages slated for release by Hamas today?

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: According to details provided by Hamas, Israeli citizens Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher will be released on Sunday. The third hostage scheduled for release is British national Emily Damari. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the government is reviewing the details of the list and the families of the hostages have been informed. 31-year old Steinbrecher and 28-year-old Damari were kidnapped from Kfar Aza. Meanwhile 24-year-old Gonen was abducted at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023.

19 Jan 2025, 03:28:39 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Mediator Qatar confirms start of truce

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Qatar confirmed the start of a truce between Israel and Hamas on Sunday afternoon. It also noted that some of the initial three hostages to be freed hold foreign citizenship.

"We confirm that the names of the three hostages who will be released today have been handed over to the Israeli side. They are three Israeli citizens, one of whom holds Romanian citizenship and the other British citizenship. Thus, the ceasefire has begun," Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said in a statement.

19 Jan 2025, 03:17:10 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Why was the truce delayed?

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Israel blamed Hamas for the delay after the Palestinian militant group failed to provide a list naming the first three hostages to be released under the deal. Meanwhile Hamas attributed the delay to "technical" reasons without specifying details.

A Palestinian official familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the delay occurred because mediators had asked for 48 hours of "calm" before the ceasefire's implementation, but continued Israeli strikes right up until the deadline had made it difficult to send the list.

19 Jan 2025, 02:51:51 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Israel says Gaza ceasefire to begin at 11:15 am

A long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza began after a three-hour delay as Hamas named the three female hostages it plans to free later on Sunday. 

Israel had vowed to keep fighting until it received the names, as the long and uncertain process aimed at ending the war got off to a bumpy start.

19 Jan 2025, 02:51:51 PM IST

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE:Israel receives names of hostages set to be released by Hamas on Sunday

Gaza Ceasefire LIVE: Israeli authorities confirmed on Sunday that they had received the names of hostages set to be released by Hamas. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said security official were currently ‘checking details’. 

Meanwhile a Hamas statement said that three female hostages — Romi Gonen, Doron Seteinbrecher and Emily Damari — would be released on Sunday. 

Recommended For You