Agreement on Ceasefire in Gaza Amidst Escalating Israeli Bombing and Humanitarian Crisis
January 18, 2025, 11:15 am

Agreement on Ceasefire in Gaza Amidst Escalating Israeli Bombing and Humanitarian Crisis

غزة - أرشيف

Despite the ongoing Israeli bombardment that Gaza has experienced since Saturday morning, signs of an agreement for a ceasefire are emerging before the truce is set to take effect.

Informed media sources reported that an agreement has been reached for a field quieting beginning this afternoon, aimed at allowing preparations for the release of Israeli prisoners. In turn, the Israeli army announced it is preparing to accept a ceasefire.

Earlier today, the pace of Israeli airstrikes intensified, targeting various areas across the Gaza Strip. Israeli warships also opened fire towards the shores of Gaza City and the Al-Nusairat camp in the center, in addition to regions in the northern part of the Strip. Sources reported that Israeli tanks remain positioned in residential areas in northern Gaza.

Inside Israel, explosions were heard in the sky above Jerusalem after warning sirens sounded in the city, with the Israeli army announcing a projectile was fired from Yemen.

The anticipated agreement is expected to include the release of 33 Israeli detainees in the first phase, which will last for 42 days, in exchange for Israel freeing 737 Palestinian prisoners from its jails, most of whom are women and children.

It is noteworthy that since the announcement of the agreement between Israel and Hamas last Wednesday evening, airstrikes on Gaza have not ceased, with many buildings, especially in the northern part of the Strip, reduced to piles of rubble. Civil defense confirmed that the number of fatalities due to Israeli bombing has exceeded 100 people as of Friday.

Over months of bitter conflict, more than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of whom are women and children, in addition to nearly two million Palestinians being displaced multiple times over the past 15 months. This crisis is compounded by a shortage of medical and food aid due to restrictions imposed by Israel, leading to worsening humanitarian conditions and the spread of hunger, disease, and a lack of healthcare.

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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.”