Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approval of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is being delayed due to a last-minute dispute with Hamas. The deal, which was announced by US President Joe Biden and mediator Qatar, would pause fighting and release dozens of hostages. However, Israeli airstrikes have already killed at least 72 people in the territory, raising concerns about the implementation of the agreement. Netanyahu has postponed the Cabinet vote on the deal until Friday at the earliest, creating a sense of uncertainty among Palestinians, hostage families, and world leaders who had welcomed the news.
https://stltoday.com/news/nation-world/netanyahu-claims-last-minute-crisis-with-hamas-holding-up-approval-of-gaza-truce/article_5142f8ab-e296-5e95-a47b-e6878c5078b1.htmlA three-phase ceasefire agreement has been reached between Israel to end over 15 months of violence in Gaza. The deal is set to take effect on Sunday, following a vote by Israel's security cabinet on Friday. The agreement comes as the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of nearly 46,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and over 110,000 injuries since October 7, 2023.
A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has been proposed, which includes measures such as freeing hostages on both sides, increasing aid to Gaza, reconstructing destroyed areas, and a cessation of attacks. The humanitarian crisis in the region is severe, with at least 85% of the population facing 'crisis', 'emergency' and 'catastrophe' levels of food insecurity due to a sharp decline in humanitarian aid trucks entering the area. As of January 15, around 98 hostages remain captive, including children and elderly individuals taken by Hamas on October 7. The agreement aims to allow at least 600 aid trucks to reach Gaza daily, which would provide a crucial boost to supplies. A preliminary analysis by the United Nations Satellite Centre reveals that 69% of structures in the Gaza Strip are damaged, with around 245,123 housing units estimated to be damaged. Israel has accused Hamas of backtracking on some provisions of the ceasefire deal, leading Netanyahu to postpone the Cabinet meeting to approve the agreement.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/israel-hamas-ceasefire-deal-situation-in-gaza-infographics/article69103703.eceA deal has been reached between Israel and Hamas for the release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel. The agreement also paves the way for an influx of humanitarian aid to Gaza, where food shortages have left a majority of the population displaced. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet is yet to approve the deal, with a vote scheduled for Thursday, although it has been delayed due to last-minute demands from Hamas and opposition from hardline ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir. Despite this, commentators believe the ceasefire is likely to be approved, allowing aid trucks lined up at the Egyptian border town of El-Arish to enter Gaza.
https://en.tempo.co/read/1964820/israeli-cabinet-delay-approval-of-gaza-ceasefire-deal-as-strikes-on-enclave-kill-77A recent agreement between Israel and Palestinians has led to a ceasefire in hostilities, which is seen as a significant blow to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's narrative of a quick victory over the Palestinian resistance in Gaza. The deal requires Israel to withdraw from its land grabs and allow Palestinians to reclaim their homes in northern Gaza, effectively acknowledging that it cannot clear the area of its residents. This development highlights the reality of an unwinnable war against a determined opponent, forcing Israel to confront the possibility of an indefinite stalemate.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/what-you-think/2025/01/17/gaza-ceasefire-an-epic-standoff-ends-with-israels-unravelled-ambitions-che-ran/163508Norway has deployed its F-35 fighter jets from a base in Poland for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, scrambling two aircraft in response to a large number of Russian planes approaching Polish airspace. This marks the first time Norwegian fighter jets have been used in Polish airspace since they were stationed there in December 2022. The move is seen as a demonstration of NATO's commitment to protecting its eastern flank allies.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/942374-nato-for-the-first-time-since-the-start-of-the-war-in-ukraine-something-like-this-has-happenedVice President Mike Pence spoke at an educational forum in Taiwan's capital, reaffirming the US commitment to supporting Taiwan's defense and freedom. He called on the incoming Trump administration to negotiate a free trade agreement with Taiwan, which would likely anger China. Pence also stated that there is a bipartisan consensus in Washington that China poses the greatest strategic and economic threat to the US and its allies. Additionally, he advocated for the release of imprisoned Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai during a business event in the city.
https://apnews.com/article/pence-taiwan-trump-china-invasion-1e9b81a7a9e0ea6e599eb0a6c5fad9d4Mike Pence, who recently returned from a visit to Hong Kong, has stated that there is a broad bipartisan understanding in Washington that China poses a significant threat to the US and its allies in the 21st century. This assessment comes as Pence's relationship with former President Donald Trump remains strained due to their differing views on the 2020 election results, particularly during the January 6, 2021 events at the Capitol when Pence refused to comply with Trump's request to overturn the election outcome.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/942391-mike-pence-us-must-strengthen-military-and-economic-support-for-taiwanThe Philippine Coast Guard is conducting exercises from January 17-19 in response to China's presence at the Scarborough Shoal, which it claims is an illegal patrol within Manila's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Philippines has called on China to respect its sovereign rights and deescalate tensions. This comes as the two countries held talks under a bilateral mechanism to address issues in the South China Sea, where China's territorial claims overlap with those of several other nations, including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2025/01/17/philippine-navy-holds-exercise-near-disputed-shoal-amid-standoff-with-china/163641