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

Yemen's Houthis will limit their attacks on commercial vessels to Israel-linked ships after the Gaza ceasefire came into effect, the Yemen-based Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (Hocc), said.

The Hocc, which liaises between Houthi forces and commercial shipping operators, also said in an email dated January 19 that if the US, Britain or Israel resumed strikes on Yemen, then attacks on vessels affiliated with these countries would resume.

Three people injured in an Israeli drone attack on Monday arrived at the European Hospital in southern Gaza, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, citing an unnamed medical source.

The attack, carried out by a quadcopter, reportedly took place while Palestinians were checking on their homes in Rafah city, on the second day of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

Meirav Leshem Gonen, the mother of freed captive Romi Gonen, who was released by Hamas as part of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, said she is “taking a moment to breathe it in and believe in this new reality” after reuniting with her daughter on Sunday.

Gonen also drew attention to the remaining captives and their families in a brief Facebook post, saying they “need this reality to become true” for them as well.

In a separate post, the mother described her experience as “an alternate reality, disconnected from the outside world, in which nothing exists but family.”

Palestinian group Hamas criticised Israel in a statement over the poor condition of some of the 90 Palestinian prisoners released on Sunday as part of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

"The pictures of the three female prisoners being handed over to the enemy showed them in full physical and psychological health, while our male and female prisoners showed signs of neglect and exhaustion," the statement read.

China on Monday hailed the start of a long-awaited ceasefire aimed at ending Israel's war on Gaza.

A spokeswoman for Beijing's foreign ministry said "China welcomes the Gaza ceasefire agreement coming into effect".

"We hope that the agreement will be fully and continuously implemented and that a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza will be achieved," Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing.

"China will continue to work with the international community to promote peace and stability in the Middle East," she said.

The three captives, Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher, released from Hamas captivity on Sunday as part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement “are in stable condition,” The Times of Israel reported the deputy director general of health at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan in Israel saying. 

“It will take a few more days to complete all the needed examinations,” Dr Sefi Mendelovich said. The hospital staff will continue to monitor their clinical condition.

After more than 470 days of war, the people in Gaza can now hear the sounds of children at play rather than air strikes, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said.

"Our teams reported a good first day of the ceasefire," Philippe Lazzarini, head of Unrwa, said on X, stating that aid and some commercial supplies started flowing smoothly on Sunday.

“The ceasefire must continue to hold and all elements of the agreement must be implemented. It is a step in the right direction towards long-lasting peace and stability for all,” Lazzarini said.

More than 630 trucks with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Sunday, with at least 300 of them travelling to the territory’s besieged and bombed north, the UN’s aid chief Tom Fletcher said.

But the UN’s undersecretary-general for humanitarian relief also warned that there is still “no time to lose” in getting aid into Gaza, with a "staggering" need for assistance after 15 months of relentless war.

"We recognize the logistical challenges facing those delivering this aid, including mountains of rubble and unexploded remnants of war," Fletcher said.

More than 630 trucks with humanitarian aid entered Gaza today, with at least 300 of them going to the north.

There is no time to lose. pic.twitter.com/X3zdKnI790

— Tom Fletcher (@UNReliefChief) January 19, 2025

Hamas said that one of the Palestinian prisoners who had been slated for release yesterday under the prisoner exchange deal in the Gaza ceasefire agreement with Israel was not freed,  Israeli news outlet Ynet reported.

The group said in a statement that it is working with mediators and the Red Cross “to pressure Israel to comply with the agreed list of prisoners.”

Good morning, Middle East Eye readers,

Here are some of the latest updates on Israel's war on Gaza:

• The Palestinians freed by the Israeli authorities from Ofer military prison include politician Khalida Jarrar, one of the most prominent leaders of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and journalist Rula Hassanein.

• The sister of journalist Rula Hassanein, who is among the first group of Palestinians freed from Israeli prisons, said she is suffering from “severe exhaustion” and needs to be transferred to a hospital for treatment, Al Jazeera reported.

• Outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken thanked Qatar’s Prime Minister for mediating a Gaza ceasefire and supporting peace efforts, according to a State Department statement.

• At least two Palestinians were injured by Israeli bullets in occupied West Bank's Beitunia, one of the towns in where buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners have arrived amid the celebrations, Al Jazeera reported.

Good evening Middle East Eye readers, 

Our live coverage will now pause for a few hours until the morning. Here's a quick summary of developments from the last few hours: 

• Israeli authorities released 90 Palestinian prisoners early on Monday morning as part of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement
• Israeli settlers launched a string of attacks on towns and villages in the occupied West Bank, ahead of the release of Palestinian prisoners
• A Palestinian teenager was shot and killed during an Israeli raid on the town of Sebastia, northwest of Nablus in the occupied West Bank
• Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's far-right national security minister, called for the remaining captives in Gaza to be released "through force", including by stopping humanitarian aid 
• Givara Budeiri, a prominent Al Jazeera journalist, was detained by the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank while covering the first day of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas
• Prominent British MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell were questioned by the police under caution following a pro-Palestine protest that led to numerous arrests
• Hamas military spokesperson Abu Obeida said his group was committed to the ceasefire deal, as fighters from the group released three Israeli captives

Israeli authorities released 90 Palestinian prisoners early on Monday morning as part of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, hours after three Israeli captives were freed from the enclave.

Buses left Israel's Ofer prison in the early hours of the morning, Al Jazeera Arabic reported. 

Israeli security forces and representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) carried out medical and identity checks, before releasing them in coordination with the Israeli government. 

Among those freed were 78 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank, who were transported to the Beitunia checkpoint near Ofer prison. 

Twelve Palestinians from occupied East Jerusalem were also transported back to the city, where they were released to their homes after being briefly held at the Russian Compound detention centre. 

Read more: Israel releases 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of ceasefire deal

Israel's prison service has said that 90 Palestinian prisoners have been released as part of a prisoner exchange deal in the Gaza ceasefire agreement. 

Israeli forces attacked Palestinians gathered outside Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank with tear gas and rubber bullets, wounding at least seven people.

Ninety prisoners are set to be freed later tonight from the facility, with friends and family having gathered nearby awaiting their release.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society treated those wounded, describing the injuries as “minor”.

Unlike previous prisoner exchanges, the Israeli army has imposed strict security measures to prevent public gatherings outside the prison. 

Simultaneously, Israeli police have stormed the homes of several Palestinian female prisoners in Jerusalem who are expected to be released.

The police have warned their families against celebrating or raising Palestinian flags, with threats that such actions could result in the release being cancelled.

The World Food Programme (WFP) announced earlier on Sunday that food trucks had begun to cross into Gaza, after the ceasefire officially came into effect. 

"WFP trucks started crossing into Gaza via Zikim and Kerem Shalom crossings. The first trucks carried life-saving wheat flour and ready-to-eat food parcels for people in desperate need," it said on X. 

#GazaCeasefire: WFP trucks started crossing into Gaza via Zikim and Kerem Shalom crossings. The first trucks carried life-saving wheat flour and ready-to-eat food parcels for people in desperate need.

WFP aims to deliver food daily along humanitarian corridors that include… pic.twitter.com/etd2lMR5Wx

— World Food Programme (@WFP) January 19, 2025