Palestine - January 2025

On 19 January, a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas took effect, potentially ending 15 months of war in Gaza. The first phase of the agreement, planned to last 42 days, is to involve the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons. Israel has also started to withdraw its military forces from populated areas and the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza, allowing displaced Palestinians to return to their homes and facilitating the entry and delivery of humanitarian aid. If successful, a second phase would involve an additional exchange of hostages and prisoners and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops. The third phase would focus on Gaza's reconstruction. The agreement, mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, showed initial progress by the end of January, but concerns about its stability remain. Details of the second and third phases of the ceasefire are yet to be negotiated.

Sources: Financial Times, WAFA, Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sada News

On 21 January, Israel launched "Iron Wall," a large-scale military operation in the northern West Bank, which initially targeted Jenin Camp before quickly expanding to the refugee camps of Tulkarm, Nur Shams, and Faraa. In early February, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees reported that the violence has rendered these camps uninhabitable, displacing over 40,000 people (more than half the population of these camps). At least 29 Palestinians were killed, and many more were injured, with homes and civilian infrastructure severely destroyed by airstrikes. Further military raids were also reported in Hebron, Bethlehem, and East Jerusalem. The escalation also saw an increase in attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian villages, following a decision by the United States to lift sanctions on violent settlers.

Sources: Associated Press, Al Arabiya, Reuters, WAFA, UNRWA