Live: At least 137 people killed by Israel recovered from rubble in Rafah

As the long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza was announced on Wednesday, displaced Palestinians celebrated and expressed both relief and fear while hoping that the agreement would hold.

Shourouk Shahine, a Palestinian journalist in Deir al-Balah, told Middle East Eye that she feels “a very conflicted feeling, very mixed emotions, we are holding our breath”.

“There were many rounds of negotiations that used to take place before being ruined by conditions from the [negotiating] sides, and we would fall into despair after feeling hopeful,” she said.

“This time, however, we feel like there was seriousness in the negotiations and noticed international pressure on all sides. Therefore, we are potentially heading towards a ceasefire.”

The ceasefire, which will be implemented in three phases starting on 19 January, will see countless displaced Palestinians return to their cities and towns.

Read more: 'Life will start again': Palestinians in Gaza react to ceasefire announcement

An Israeli official, speaking to Reuters, has stated that the ceasefire agreement will not become official unless it is approved by both the cabinet and the Israeli government.

The Palestinian Civil Defence has reported that 71 people have been killed and more than 200 injured in Gaza since the ceasefire was announced, underlining the relentless suffering of Palestinians caught in Israel's ongoing military assault.

Despite the ceasefire agreement, Israel’s bombardment shows no sign of abating, leaving civilians to bear the brunt of the violence at least until 19 January when the deal is expected to enter into force.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Hamas without proof of reneging on key details of the ceasefire agreement, claiming the group is hindering its approval by the Israeli government.

In a statement, Netanyahu alleged that Hamas was attempting to "extort last minute concessions" by backtracking on parts of the deal. However, there is no evidence to support Netanyahu's claims, especially given his history of derailing ceasefire agreements in the past.

Despite Israel's accusations, Hamas has reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire deal announced by the mediators yesterday, urging Israel to uphold its part of the agreement.

Israel's refusal to convene the cabinet to ratify the deal Hamas has accepted leaves the Palestinian people to bear the consequences. On Thursday alone Israel has killed at least 50 Palestinians.

Israeli forces killed at least 82 Palestinians in Gaza, in an intense bombing campaign across the enclave on Wednesday. The escalation by Israel came just as a planned ceasefire was going to be announced with the northern parts of Gaza bearing the brunt of the violence.

Among the casualties, at least 12 people were killed in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood of Gaza City, as Israeli air strikes intensified in the area.

The Palestinian Civil Defence has condemned the heavy assault, which has exacerbated the dire humanitarian conditions in the besieged territory.

Israeli air strikes have killed around 50 Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip since dawn on Thursday, according to a medical source speaking to Al Jazeera Arabic.

The Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the US, aims to address the ongoing suffering of Palestinians, but many critics argue that it falls short of securing lasting peace. The deal is split into three stages, with conditions that many fear Israel will fail to uphold.

• First phase:

  • Hamas agrees to release 33 Israeli captives, including women, children, and the elderly.

  • In return, Israel promises to free 50 Palestinian captives for each female soldier and 30 for each civilian.

  • Israel will release all women and children under 19 abducted from Gaza since 7 October, 2023.

  • A gradual easing of restrictions will allow unarmed Palestinians to return to northern Gaza, with up to 600 trucks of aid permitted into the enclave.

• Second phase:

  • If conditions are met, Hamas will release the remaining Israeli captives, mostly soldiers, in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners.

  • Israel would then commence its "complete withdrawal" from Gaza, including the sensitive Egyptian-Gaza border.

• Third phase:

  • If the second stage is fulfilled, the bodies of those still missing will be returned in exchange for a reconstruction plan under international supervision, lasting between three and five years.

Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya has vowed that Palestinians will never forget the atrocities committed against them by Israel, including the mass killings, media justifications, and the international backing that enabled the destruction of their homes.

In a statement, al-Hayya described Israel’s ongoing military actions as “a barbaric war of extermination,” accusing the Israeli occupation and its allies of carrying out the “worst genocide in modern history”.

He added that the violence, which has persisted for 467 days, will be permanently etched in the collective memory of the Palestinian people and the global community.

The comments reflect the deep anger felt by Palestinians, who continue to endure the devastating impact of Israeli air strikes and ground operations.

Israeli air strikes have killed 25 Palestinians in Gaza City and the central Gaza Strip since the early hours of Thursday, with many civilians among the casualties, reports Al Jazeera Arabic.

Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas on Wednesday agreed to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, potentially bringing an end to Israel's devastating 15-month onslaught on the enclave that killed at least 46,707 Palestinians.

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani announced the deal on Wednesday during a press conference in Doha, saying the agreement will take effect on 19 January. 

The Qataris, alongside the Egyptians, helped negotiate the agreement with Israel, while the incoming US administration of President-elect Donald Trump applied pressure on the Israelis, Haaretz reported. 

Trump lauded the "epic" ceasefire, saying it would not have happened without his return to the White House. 

The agreement adds new details to an agreement initially reported by Middle East Eye in 2024.

Read more: Israel-Gaza ceasefire: Full text of agreement

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has hailed the Gaza ceasefire as a significant defeat for Israel and a resounding victory for Palestine.

In a statement, the Guard credited Hamas with emerging victorious from negotiations, citing its faith, Gaza’s resilience, and growing international support.

While congratulating Hamas and the Palestinian people on their achievement, the statement cautioned against potential betrayal by Israel and urged continued vigilance to counter any renewed conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed gratitude to US President-elect Donald Trump for his assistance in securing the Gaza agreement, according to Reuters.

Netanyahu also confirmed plans to meet Trump in Washington in the near future.

An Israeli air strike targeted an apartment building near the Shaabiya intersection in Gaza City’s Daraj neighbourhood, killed at least four people, according to reports from the Shehab news agency and the Palestinian Information Center.

The strike is part of a relentless Israeli military campaign in northern Gaza, where sources on the ground report at least 40 people have been killed in recent hours.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels praised Palestinian fighters for their "great sacrifices" and unwavering defiance against Israel, stating that this resilience, even after the assassinations of leaders like Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, forced Israel to agree to a ceasefire.

Mohammed Abdul Salam, the group’s spokesperson, told Yemen’s Saba news agency that the Houthis felt compelled to act, citing a "religious and humanitarian responsibility" to support Gaza.

The Houthis launched numerous attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping affilied with Israel, the US and the UK during the Gaza war.

Abdul Salam accused Israel of committing "genocidal massacres" in Gaza, claiming the invasion left no choice but to act in solidarity with the Palestinians, describing the situation as an obligation for the entire nation.

While acknowledging the ceasefire as a conclusion to the immediate conflict, Abdul Salam warned that Israel’s occupation of Palestine continues to endanger regional stability.

He argued that Israel’s policies not only devastate Gaza but also incite widespread unrest, reinforcing resistance movements across the region.