On the night of January 16, at least 71 people were killed and more than 200 people were injured in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli strikes, Reuters reported, citing the authorities and residents of the Palestinian enclave.
The spokesperson of the Israeli army said that this information is being investigated. Earlier it was reported about 20 victims. The strikes followed the announcement of a cease-fire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian radical movement Hamas, brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, to end 15 months of hostilities. Israel has not yet officially ratified the agreement. it must be approved by the country's security cabinet and government, with a vote scheduled for January 16, an Israeli official told the agency. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of making demands at the last minute and reneging on agreements reached.
In turn, the official representative of Hamas, Izzat al-Rishk, stated that the organization fulfills the terms of the agreement on the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire agreement should enter into force on January 19. It will include 3 stages. during the first phase there must be a full ceasefire, Israeli forces must withdraw from residential areas of Gaza, Hamas must release 33 hostages it is holding in exchange for dozens of Palestinians in Israeli prisons.
During the second phase, there should be a complete cessation of hostilities, the other surviving hostages should be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners, Israeli forces should withdraw from the Gaza Strip, and the temporary cease-fire should be made permanent. the bodies of the dead hostages must be returned to their families.
