Live Updates: Israel presses Jenin raids as Palestinians return to north Gaza

Monday, January 27, 2025

10:25 GMT — Israel presses Jenin raids as Palestinians return to north Gaza

The Israeli army has continued its offensive in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin and its refugee camp for the seventh day.

Witnesses said the Israeli army was still cordoning off the refugee camp from all directions, and clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters along with sounds of explosions were reported.

The Israeli army also continued to demolish homes in the camp, sources said.

09:48 GMT — Hamas says return to northern Gaza victory for our people, defeat to Israeli expulsion plan

As displaced Palestinians began returning to their homes in northern Gaza, for the first time since Israel launched a war in October 2023 on the enclave, Hamas said the return was a victory for their people and a defeat for Israel and its expulsion plans.

"The return of the displaced is a victory for our people and a declaration of the failure and defeat of the (Israeli) occupation and its displacement plans," senior leader Izzat al-Rishq said in a statement.

"The return of our displaced people to their homes proves once again the failure of the occupation in achieving its aggressive goals of displacing our people and breaking their resolute will," he added.

08:35 GMT — Trump, Starmer discuss Gaza

US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke on Sunday in a wide-ranging conversation on Gaza.

Starmer praised Trump for his "role in securing the landmark ceasefire and hostages deal in Gaza," as the pair discussed the "importance of working together for security in the Middle East," according to a readout of the call from Downing Street.

Trump meanwhile welcomed the release of British-Israeli dual national Emily Damari who was freed a week ago by Hamas.

07:28 GMT — Thousands of Palestinians start returning to northern Gaza

Thousands of Palestinians forcibly displaced by Israel's war started returning to northern Gaza on foot through coastal Al-Rashid Street as part of the ceasefire deal.

Thousands of Palestinians headed north after waiting for days to cross. Associated Press reporters saw people crossing the Netzarim corridor shortly after the checkpoints were scheduled to open.

06:58 GMT — Israel to allow Palestinians into northern Gaza starting Monday

Qatar has said that Israel will allow displaced Palestinians to return from southern Gaza to its northern regions starting on Monday morning.

“Starting tomorrow morning, Monday, Israeli authorities will allow displaced residents in Gaza to return from the southern areas to the northern regions of the (Gaza) Strip,” Majid Al-Ansari, the spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, said in a statement.

“As part of ongoing efforts led by mediators, an agreement has been reached between the two parties under which Hamas will hand over the (Israeli) hostage Arbel Yehud and two other hostages by next Friday. Additionally, Hamas will release three more hostages on Saturday,” added Al-Ansari.

06:18 GMT — Egypt announces launch of largest aid convoy to Gaza

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has announced the launch of the largest humanitarian aid convoy for Palestinians in Gaza.

In a speech during a conference in the Asmarat area of Cairo, Madbouly said the convoy was launched "in implementation of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's directives and in response to the call of humanity to support our Palestinian brothers in Gaza," according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.

The convoy consists of 305 trucks carrying more than 4,200 tons of aid and 11 ambulances to support Gaza under the slogan "Together for Humanity,” the statement added.

05:18 GMT — Al Quds Brigades say they have taken steps to remove Israeli pretexts for blocking return of displaced Palestinians

The Al Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, has said that they have taken steps to eliminate Israeli pretexts to obstruct the return of forcibly displaced Palestinians from southern Gaza to the north.

Israel “deliberately disrupts the lives of our people and takes away their joy. We have taken the necessary measures to remove the excuses fabricated by the enemy to block the return of our people to northern Gaza,” the brigades said in a statement on Telegram.

"The mediators (Egypt and Qatar) have received guarantees confirming that the Zionist captive Arbel Yehud is alive and in good health,” they added.

04:11 GMT — Israeli minister forced to cancel Brussels visit due to security warnings

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested that Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli cancel a trip to the European Parliament in Brussels due to security warnings.

"Due to specific security warnings and based on the recommendation of security agencies, Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli was asked to cancel his scheduled trip to the European Parliament in Brussels," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

​​​​​​Neither the minister nor Netanyahu’s office specified the exact date of the trip.

03:42 GMT — US Defence Secretary Hegseth holds first call with Israel's Netanyahu

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth held an introductory call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Department of Defence has said in a statement, adding that Hegseth stressed that Washington is fully committed to ensuring Israel has the capabilities it needs to defend itself.

"Both leaders discussed the importance of advancing mutual security interests and priorities, especially in the face of persistent threats," the statement read.

03:22 GMT — Lebanon confirms adhering to truce with Israel until Feb. 18

Lebanon has confirmed it will continue to adhere to the ceasefire agreement with Israel until Feb.18, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said in a statement.

03:00 GMT — Hamas hands over information about captives to be released in first phase of Gaza ceasefire

Hamas has said that it handed over to the mediators the required information regarding the list of Israeli captives who will be released during the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

02:25 GMT — Israel confirms hostage Yehud, soldier Berger to be released by Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that civilian Arbel Yehud, soldier Agam Berger and another hostage will be released by Hamas.

He also said in a post on X that Israel will allow displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza starting on Monday morning.

02:00 GMT — White House says ceasefire agreement between Lebanon, Israel to continue until Feb 18

The White House has said in a statement that the arrangement between Lebanon and Israel would continue to be in effect until Feb 18, after Israel said on Friday it would keep troops in the south beyond the Sunday deadline set out in a US-brokered ceasefire that halted last year's conflict with Hezbollah.

The White House also said the governments of Lebanon, Israel and the United States would begin negotiations for "the return of Lebanese prisoners captured after October 7, 2023."

For our live updates from Sunday January 26, 2025, click here.