Updates: Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza holds, Palestinian prisoners freed

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Before you go, you can read about the handover of three Israeli captives that took place today, here.

You can also read about the family in Gaza killed just minutes before the ceasefire took hold, here.

Finally, you can see the moment the first aid trucks were allowed into the Gaza Strip as part of the ceasefire deal, here.

We will be closing this live page soon. Here is a recap of the day’s major developments:

• Israeli authorities have released 90 Palestinian prisoners from Israel’s Ofer Prisoner, Al Jazeera Arabic reports, after Israeli authorities earlier wounded at least seven people who had gathered nearby to celebrate.
• Hamas handed three Israeli captives to the Red Cross, which transferred them to Israeli forces who took them out of the Gaza Strip.
• Hamas’s military spokesperson, Abu Obeida, has given a televised speech, saying that Hamas is committed to the ceasefire deal, which he said could have been reached more than a year ago if it had not been for Netanyahu’s “malicious ambitions”.
• The first aid trucks have entered Gaza as part of the ceasefire deal. Six hundred trucks carrying humanitarian aid are set to arrive each day, with half the trucks heading north of the Gaza Strip and the rest remaining south.
• Gaza’s Interior Ministry said in a statement that local security forces were reintroduced to the main streets of Gaza following the start of the ceasefire agreement today.
• The Palestinian news agency Wafa reports that a Palestinian teenager has been shot and killed during a raid by Israeli forces on the town of Sebastia, northwest of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank.

Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim spoke to senior Hamas official Basem Naim about the details and conditions of the ceasefire deal, the losses Hamas suffered and how the group is looking to the future.

Watch below to see the interview:

Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic have spoken to the father of a prisoner set to be released today.

He said that the parents had been waiting since 3pm (13:00 GMT) outside the prison but had not received any information regarding when they would see their children.

He also said the Israeli forces had reacted violently to any expressions of joy displayed by the Palestinians waiting outside the prison.

The World Health Organization has welcomed the Gaza ceasefire deal but warned that “immense challenges lie ahead to restore the health system” after 15 months of war.

The UN agency said only half of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain partially operational. Nearly all hospitals are damaged or partly destroyed and just 38 percent of primary healthcare centres are functional.

While specialised healthcare remains largely unavailable, an estimated 25 percent of those injured – about 30 000 people – face life-changing injuries and will need ongoing rehabilitation.

“Transmission of infectious diseases has massively increased, malnutrition is rising, and the risk of famine persists. The breakdown of public order, exacerbated by armed gangs, raises further concerns,” the organisation said in a statement.

“Addressing the massive needs and restoring the health system will be an extremely complex and challenging task,” it added. “It is critical that the security obstacles hindering operations are removed.”

Al Jazeera is reporting from Jordan because it has been banned from Israel and the occupied West Bank.

This is an attempt by Israeli forces to push families and media back because they do not want any attention on the release of Palestinian prisoners.

The Israeli prison service released a statement days ago saying that they are going to be heavily involved in this release, more so than they were previously because they want to limit all expressions of joy among Palestinians who are getting released.

This prisoner release was a huge point of contention in the Israeli government because the far-right didn’t want to see any released at all.

So it’s not so shocking to see this tear gas being fired at people in the area because we saw similar scenes back in November of 2023 when the first and only other ceasefire deal took place.

The reason why the Israeli military is taking so long to release them is that they don’t want people on the street celebrating.

At least seven people have been wounded after Israeli security personnel attacked people gathered near the military prison, inside which are the 90 Palestinian prisoners set to be released tonight.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society reports that the injuries, which its crews treated, were “minor”.

Sources say that Israeli forces deployed tear gas and rubber bullets against those gathered outside the prison, which is located near the Palestinian town of Beitunia, west of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

It’s unusual not to hear drones buzzing in the sky – all of a sudden, they’re gone. It’s also unusual to see trucks moving in from the Rafah and Kerem Shalom (Karem Abu Salem) crossing carrying food, water and other life-saving supplies.

But the amount that has been allowed in today is not enough to meet the needs of the population and none of the trucks has yet made its way to the north of Gaza.

Medical supplies are also needed in hospitals to sustain their operations as people are still dying from the lack of basic necessities.

The first aid trucks are entering Gaza as part of the ceasefire deal.

Six hundred trucks carrying humanitarian aid are set to arrive each day, with half the trucks heading north of the Gaza Strip and the rest remaining south.

Watch below to learn more:

Al Jazeera is reporting from Jordan because it has been banned from Israel and the occupied West Bank.

Doctors have said that the captives are in good health, but as part of the plan to receive the captives back in Israel, there will be a minimum of a four-day stay at the hospital.

They’re going to be conducting several different psychological evaluations and medical exams to see exactly what kind of condition the captives are in.

The [Israeli] military had confirmed hours ago that they [the captives] crossed into Israeli territory and were being airlifted to the hospital.

It’s worth mentioning that since the ceasefire deal was announced Wednesday night, there was no word from Benjamin Netanyahu, no sort of public appearance, no public statement other than the fact that he wasn’t going to make a statement.

Benjamin Netanyahu finally released a statement last night after the security cabinet meeting was delayed and after the cabinet vote had also been delayed.

We are receiving reports of Israeli army officers surrounding a home in occupied East Jerusalem that belongs to the family of Palestinian prisoner Qassem Jaafara, who is set to be released as part of the ceasefire deal.

Ninety Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released from Ofer Prison as part of the agreement.

Medical sources have informed our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic that Israeli forces fired tear gas at Palestinians who had gathered in front of Ofer Prison to welcome the prisoners expected to be released as part of the ceasefire agreement.

Here are some of the main developments over the past day:

• A Red Cross delegation is in Ofer Prison, verifying the identity of the 90 Palestinian prisoners set to be released tonight.
• Hamas handed three Israeli captives to the Red Cross, which transferred them to Israeli forces who took them out of the Gaza Strip.
• Hamas’s military spokesperson, Abu Obeida, has given a televised speech, saying that Hamas is committed to the ceasefire deal, which he said could have been reached over a year ago if it had not been for Netanyahu’s “malicious ambitions”.
• Gaza’s Interior Ministry says in a statement that local security forces were reintroduced to the main streets of Gaza following the start of the ceasefire agreement today.

Yesh Din, an Israeli organisation monitoring settler violence in the West Bank, has said dozens of attacks were reported today as Israeli settlers stormed into Palestinian villages and torched properties.

“Ceasefire? Not in the West Bank tonight,” the organisation said on X, in a reference to the Gaza deal.

The group said attacks took place in the village of Ein Siniya, where Palestinian homes were torched, as well as in Turmus Aya and along Route 60 near al-Lubban Asharqiya.

Separately, Al Jazeera Arabic and the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported that a Palestinian minor from the town of Sebastia, north of Nablus, died of his wounds after being shot by settlers.

#Ceasefire? Not in the West Bank
Tonight, dozens of settlers are attacking Palestinian villages across the West Bank.
In the village of Sinjil – Settlers set fire to two homes and at least four vehicles.
In the village of Ein Siniya – Settlers attacked and set fire to homes.
In… pic.twitter.com/nZ24wiEK5B

— Yesh Din English (@Yesh_Din) January 19, 2025

“A sign of hope.”

That’s how a medic from the World Health Organization described the ceasefire.

But the UN agency is under no illusions about the daunting task that lies ahead in Gaza. There are chronic shortages of food, fuel and medical supplies, as well as outbreaks of disease and a high risk of famine.

Martin Griffiths, who served as the United Nations’ emergency relief chief, says it is crucial to find a clearly established “pathway to peace” as the Gaza truce takes hold.

Watch below: