Israel to release 69 Palestinian women and 21 children: prisoners' media office
Israel is set to release 69 women and 21 child prisoners as part of the exchange for three Israeli hostages today, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ media office.
"The list includes 76 prisoners from the West Bank and 14 from occupied Jerusalem," it said.
The ceasefire agreement stipulates that 30 Palestinian prisoners will be freed for every Israeli hostage released, 50 if the hostage is a soldier.
Speaker Johnson says 'there will be hell to pay' if Hamas violates ceasefire
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said today that he is "hopeful" the ceasefire agreement will hold, but cautioned that Hamas is "not known to keep their word."
"If Hamas breaks the ceasefire, they need to know the United States will stand with our ally, Israel," Johnson said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "And Israel will have to eradicate that threat. It's very important for the stability of the region."
Johnson added that he would also like to see the next round of released hostages to include Americans who have been held, and the ultimate goal is to prevent another Oct. 7 attack.
"There will be hell to pay for Hamas if they violate these terms," Johnson said of the ceasefire, declining to elaborate what that might entail.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York later told "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker that Biden last May helped to lay the groundwork for a plan leading to a permanent ceasefire. Jeffries said that historians will have to answer how much credit Trump deserves.
Israel's foreign minister says 'no future of peace' if Hamas stays
Israel's foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar told reporters that “there is no future of peace, stability, and security for both sides if Hamas stays in power in Gaza Strip.”
Sa’ar's comments came during a three-hour delay to the long-awaited ceasefire in the Gaza Strip earlier this morning.
Trump celebrates hostages due for release
President-elect Donald Trump has celebrated the release of the first three hostages due to be released by Hamas today.
"Hostages starting to come out today!" he wrote on Truth Social. "Three wonderful young women will be first."
Palestinian President Abbas receives Gaza recovery plan
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has received the plan for post-ceasefire recovery in Gaza, focusing on the first six months of the response, according to Palestinian news agency WAFA.
Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Mustafa said the plan emphasizes cooperation with aid organizations and U.N. bodies, saying international support is necessary given the scale of destruction in Gaza.
Early steps of the recovery plan involve coordinating the delivery of aid, clearing rubble from main roads and institutions like hospitals, and re-establishing basic services like water, electricity, communication and sanitation in populated areas. The plan also looks to establish temporary housing for Gazans whose homes were destroyed and continue education for children.
NBC News video showed several armed Hamas militants on top of vehicles driving through crowds and celebrating the ceasefire deal after a three-hour delay. Israel delayed the ceasefire after it said Hamas had failed to produce the names of the first three hostages to be released.
Video and social media posts show Red Cross vehicles apparently on way to hostages
Video and social media posts are showing International Committee of the Red Cross vehicles apparently on their way to pick up the Hamas three hostages.
We’re not expecting to hear any official comment from the Red Cross, who said they will not be commenting on operations. But things seem to be going according to schedule, after a week in which nothing has gone according to schedule. Things have been changing every hour.
In this case, Israeli officials have said that the hostages would not be released before 4 p.m. local time, and the reports of the Red Cross heading to pick up the hostages emerged just after 4 p.m.
IDF ‘strengthens operations’ in occupied West Bank
The Israel Defense Forces have announced that operations in the occupied West Bank have been reinforced with additional combat soldiers for defensive and offensive operations. The move is part of the ceasefire agreement and Israel’s preparation for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
The IDF says the troops will help establish additional checkpoints to thwart what it calls “terrorist activity and violent riots.” The ceasefire agreement stipulates that 30 Palestinian prisoners will be freed for every Israeli hostage released.
Displaced Palestinians return to Rafah as ceasefire takes effect
Displaced Palestinians carried belongings as they walked through the devastation in Rafah, in southern Gaza, today after the ceasefire took effect.
Palestinian police officers deployed in the Gaza Strip
Hamas has begun deploying thousands of Palestinian police officers in the Gaza Strip as it reopens offices and streets following the ceasefire deal, according to a statement released by the government's media office this morning.
"We announce the beginning of deploying thousands of Palestinian police officers according to the government plan to maintain security and order in various governorates of the Gaza Strip, and municipalities have also begun to reopen and rehabilitate streets shortly after the ceasefire decision came into effect," the office stated.
It added that Palestinian ministries and government institutions were "fully prepared" to begin working according to the government plan to implement all measures that "ensure the return of life to normal as soon as possible and gradually."