Biden Says Guns in Gaza Have Gone Silent After Massive Destruction

Thousands of displaced Palestinians return to their ruined homes in the devastated Gaza.

Sun Jan 19 2025
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WASHINGTON: Outgoing US President Joe Biden has said that after so much pain, destruction and loss of life, the guns in Gaza have gone silent.

He made remarks on the first day of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage exchange deal.

“The deal that I pushed for last May … has finally come to fruition,” Biden said. “The ceasefire has gone into effect in Gaza and today we are seeing hostages being released,” he added.

He said, “four more women will be released in seven days, with three additional hostages released every seven days thereafter, including at least two American citizens in this first phase.”

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Displaced Palestinians make their way past rubble as they attempt to return to their homes in northern Gaza. —Photo by AFP

Biden said that on the 16th day of the ceasefire, talks will start on the second phase of the agreement, which includes a permanent end to hostilities and the release of captured Israeli soldiers.

“Today alone, we anticipate several hundred trucks will enter the Gaza Strip as I’m speaking,” Biden added.

“After so much pain, destruction and loss of life, the guns in Gaza have gone silent,” the president said, highlighting that this deal was “endorsed overwhelmingly”, by actors including the UN Security Council.

Displaced Palestinians return to homes

Thousands of displaced, war-weary Palestinians set off across the devastated Gaza Strip to return to their ruined homes on Sunday, after a long-awaited truce between Israel and Hamas went into effect following an initial delay.

The ceasefire began nearly three hours later than scheduled, during which Israeli military continued offensive in Gaza, with the territory’s civil defence agency reporting 19 people killed and 25 wounded in bombardments on Sunday.

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This aerial view shows displaced Palestinians returning to the war-devastated Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip on January 19, 2025, shortly before a ceasefire deal in the war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. —Photo by AFP

Gaza’s health ministry said that since October 7, 2023, at least 46,913 Palestinians, mostly women and children have been killed in Gaza in the Israeli bombardment campaign in response to Hamas’s attack on Israel.

READ ALSO : Displaced Palestinians Return to Ruined Homes as Gaza Ceasefire Begins

Hamas, meanwhile, said it was waiting for Israel to furnish “a list containing the names of 90 Palestinian prisoners from the categories of women and children” also to be released on the first day.

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Dozens of displaced Palestinians walk along a road in the as-Saftawi area of Jabalia. —Photo by AFP

A total of 33 hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel will be returned from Gaza during an initial 42-day truce, in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinians in Israeli jails.

The truce is intended to pave the way for a permanent end to the war, but a second phase has yet to be finalised.  It follows a deal struck by mediators Qatar, the United States and Egypt after months of negotiations.

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