Live blog: Israel bombards Gaza as mediators make final push for truce deal

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

0200 GMT — Mediators are making a final push to seal a Gaza truce and hostage release deal, after a Qatari official involved in the talks expressed hope an agreement could be reached "very soon".

Qatar, Egypt and the United States have intensified efforts to broker a ceasefire to enable the release of hostages taken during Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

US President Joe Biden and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al Sisi said in a phone call that both sides needed to show "flexibility" to get a deal over the line, according to a statement from Sisi's office.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went into a meeting with top security officials late Tuesday to discuss the deal, his office said, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the "ball is now in Hamas's court".

"If Hamas accepts, the deal is ready to be concluded and implemented," he said.

More updates 👇

0444 GMT — UK will supply F-35 parts to Israel despite rights concerns: NGOs

The UK government is facing intense criticism after legal submissions revealed its continued sale of F-35 fighter jet components to Israel, despite acknowledging the risk that they could be used in potential violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes in Gaza.

The legal challenge, brought by the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) Al-Haq and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), argues that the UK has effectively determined that no human rights concerns can override its commitment to supplying the parts.

The groups said the government prioritises international defence obligations over the potential misuse of the jets by Israel in Gaza bombings.

According to the NGOs, the government’s position hinges on the broader geopolitical importance of the F-35 programme.

Read the rest of the story here

0328 GMT — Netanyahu says prisoner swap deal could be finalised within ‘days or hours’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that a prisoner swap deal with the Palestinian resistance group Hamas could be finalised in a matter of “days or hours.”

His remarks were reported by Israeli outlets including Channel 12 and Yedioth Ahronoth.

Speaking during a meeting with families of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza, Netanyahu said he is “ready for a prolonged ceasefire on condition that all the abductees are returned.”

“It is a matter of days or hours. We are waiting for Hamas's response, and then we can start immediately,” he added.

0155 GMT — Islamic Jihad delegation to arrive in Qatar for Gaza ceasefire talks

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement said that a high-level delegation will arrive in the Qatari capital Doha to take part in finalising the details of a potential ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

Earlier, the Palestinian resistance group Hamas said a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap deal is in “its final stages.”

In a statement, it stressed the need “to continue consultations with Palestinian faction leaders until the agreement is finalised.”

0019 GMT — Footage reveals use of US weapons in Gaza genocide: Report

Footage broadcast by a major US television network revealed the extensive presence of US-supplied weapons in Gaza, drawing widespread criticism on social media.

The video, which aired Sunday on CBS’s long-running 60 Minutes programme, captured scenes of children sitting on rubble and playing with ammunition casings printed with DOD for the Department of Defense.

According to the report, such casings are commonly found throughout Gaza.

2309 GMT — US says Gaza casualties 'not acceptable'

The US said that the civilian death toll in Gaza is "not acceptable" while expressing optimism about a potential ceasefire agreement before the Biden administration leaves office.

During a press briefing at the State Department's Foreign Press Center, White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby responded to a question from Anadolu Agency about President Joe Biden's Middle East legacy and whether his administration could have done more to save lives.

2229 GMT — Trump's pick for Pentagon chief says he 'robustly supports' Israel in Gaza carnage

US President-elect Donald Trump's choice for defence secretary said that he backed Israel in its carnage in besieged Gaza.

Pete Hegseth was testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing. His opening remarks were interrupted many times by protestors, one of whom called him a "misogynist" and a "Christian Zionist" before being removed from the room by the Capitol Police.

Senator Tom Cotton said he was not really sure why being a Christian Zionist was a bad thing.

"I'm a Christian, I'm a Zionist. Zionism is that the Jewish people deserve a homeland in the ancient holy land where they lived since the dawn of history. Do you consider yourself a Christian Zionist?" Cotton asked Hegseth.

"I am a Christian, and I robustly support the state of Israel and its existential defence and the way America comes alongside them as their great ally," Hegseth said.

2121 GMT — Israel prepares to withdraw from Philadelphi Corridor — report

The Israeli army has begun preparing for a withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border while awaiting the completion of a much-anticipated hostage-prisoner swap deal, the Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported.

"Meetings and situation assessments were held in the Southern Command of the Israeli army over the past 24 hours in preparation for a gradual withdrawal from the Gaza Strip as the ceasefire agreement begins to take effect," the broadcaster stated.

Citing an unnamed security source, KAN said, "The Israeli army is preparing to withdraw from the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing shortly after the agreement is signed."

2107 GMT — Israel kills 6 Palestinians in occupied West Bank

The Palestinian Health Ministry said that an Israeli air strike on the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank killed six people, with the Israeli military confirming it carried out an attack in the area.

"There are six martyrs and several injured as a result of the Israeli bombing of Jenin refugee camp," the Ramallah-based ministry said in a statement.

The Israeli military did not offer details but said it had carried out "an attack in the Jenin area".

For our live updates from Tuesday, January 14, 2025, click here.