Ceasefire in Gaza to be implemented soon: White House

White House spokesperson John Kirby expressed confidence that the ceasefire agreement in Gaza is progressing well and is expected to be implemented soon. He made this remark during an interview with CNN on Thursday (January 16).

Kirby said, "We don't currently see any indications that the ceasefire agreement is at risk of falling apart."

The Israeli cabinet was set to vote on the ceasefire agreement yesterday, but the vote was delayed. Israeli media reports indicate it could take place today (Friday) or tomorrow (Saturday).

Meanwhile, Hamas is being blamed for the delay in the agreement. However, senior Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq stated that they are committed to the ceasefire agreement.

In this context, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that unresolved issues in the negotiations need to be addressed.

Under the agreement, 33 Israeli hostages held in Gaza are expected to be released within the first six weeks of the ceasefire. Families of the hostages have urged immediate action for their release.

US officials mentioned that both President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump’s representatives were present in Doha, and mediators from Egypt and Qatar are working to resolve the matter.

Meanwhile, Israel continued airstrikes in the Gaza Strip last night. According to Palestinian authorities, at least 86 people were killed in Israeli attacks following the announcement of a potential ceasefire agreement.

It is worth noting that on October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages, according to Israeli sources. In response, Israel began airstrikes in Gaza the same day. According to Gaza authorities, more than 46,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks.