January 16, 2025

Daily News Brief

Hamas, Israel agree to Gaza ceasefire deal "In a breakthrough, Hamas and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire and prisoner exchange after 468 days of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani announced the deal, starting with Hamas releasing 33 Israeli captives for an undisclosed number of Palestinian prisoners. Qatar, Egypt and the US will oversee the implementation. Details of second and third phases will emerge after the first phase concludes." World hails the Gaza ceasefire "The ceasefire in Gaza was hailed by world leaders, including Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, US President Joe Biden, and President-elect Donald Trump, as a step toward peace, humanitarian aid, and the release of prisoners. The UN and EU echoed their support, emphasising the urgent need for relief in Gaza. While Hamas declared the agreement a victory for Palestinian resilience, Egypt stressed the importance of swift aid delivery. Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed gratitude to American leaders for their support in the process." Gaza, West Bank face deadly Israeli air strikes after truce "Despite the ceasefire agreement, Israel continued to carry out air strikes on Palestinian territories in the region. At least 20 Palestinians, including children, were killed in besieged Gaza by Israeli bombardment. Tel Aviv also killed six Palestinians in the occupied West Bank during air strikes on the Jenin camp, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. " UN rights chief calls for lifting sanctions on Syria "During a historic visit to Syria, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk emphasised the need for justice and accountability for the grave human rights violations committed during 14 years of conflict. He called for an end to hostilities, the protection of all Syrians, and the pursuit of transitional justice, including investigating war crimes and addressing the needs of victims. Turk also urged the international community to reconsider sanctions that have exacerbated the suffering of ordinary Syrians." Joe Biden delivers his last speech from the Oval Office "Outgoing US President Joe Biden delivered an emotional farewell address from the Oval Office, marking his final days in office. He wished President-elect Donald Trump success while cautioning against a looming ""oligarchy"" threatening democracy. Despite his controversial legacy, Biden criticised social media giants for enabling misinformation and warned of the risks of concentrated wealth and power."