Return of Gaza Residents to Their Homes Following Ceasefire Agreement
January 19, 2025, 2:43 pm

Return of Gaza Residents to Their Homes Following Ceasefire Agreement

عودة اهالي المخيم الجديد

Residents of the Gaza Strip returned to their homes after the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel came into effect, with scenes showing gatherings of Palestinians rushing to their homes that had been completely or partially destroyed due to the Israeli bombardment that lasted for 15 months.

After being postponed in the morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that the ceasefire would take effect at 11:15 AM local time. The office stated that Israel received a list of hostages scheduled for release today, and Israeli security agencies are currently verifying the details related to the operation.

The Prime Minister's office noted that notifications to the families of the hostages have already begun, with the release of three female prisoners held by Hamas set to occur after 14:00 GMT today.

The statement mentioned that there are four other female hostages who are alive and will be released within the next seven days. Although the details regarding the mechanism for the handover of the prisoners remain unclear, Israeli media reported that Israel would receive the three prisoners via the Netzarim crossing, with a special forces unit accompanying the hostage recovery operation.

Informed sources also indicated that the prisoners are being transported to Ofer prison by buses in preparation for their release. For its part, Hamas announced that it is set to receive 90 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the three female prisoners, in accordance with the agreement.

Earlier, a correspondent for Al Arabiya/Al Hadath confirmed the arrival of the names of the three detainees to Israel, paving the way for the implementation of the ceasefire. The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades announced the names of the detainees: Rumi Jonin (24 years old), Emily Damari (28 years old), and Doron Shternberg Kheir (31 years old), with "Al Arabiya" broadcasting their images, which were circulated by Israeli media.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army stated that it "continues to strike targets in the Gaza area at present," with spokesperson Daniel Hagari clarifying that "based on the Prime Minister's directives, the ceasefire will not take effect until Hamas fulfills its commitments."

The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was supposed to take effect today, Sunday, from 06:30 GMT. However, residents of Gaza began heading towards the northern parts of the Strip, despite being prohibited from doing so by the Israeli army, according to the Jerusalem Post.

The ceasefire raises hopes for the end of the devastating 15-month war, which has left tens of thousands dead in Gaza and reshaped the situation in the Middle East. It also paves the way for the release of detainees after hours, offering a potential opportunity for an end to the conflict.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”