Israel / Gaza: ceasefire deal reached
A ceasefire deal has been reached, ending fifteen months of conflict in the Gaza strip. This agreement, hailed by Joe Biden, Qatar’s prime minister, and Hamas officials, aims to bring a much-needed break in violence. It will also lead to the release of dozens of hostages and prisoners from both sides. The phased plan includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the Gaza border, allowing displaced Palestinians to return home, as well as providing humanitarian aid and rebuilding Gaza's healthcare infrastructure. Hamas has agreed to release 33 hostages in exchange for 100 Palestinian prisoners with life sentences, while Israel will release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners who were not involved in the 7 October attacks. The deal follows months of intense diplomatic efforts, particularly by the USA, Egypt, and Qatar. Breaking news: the Israeli cabinet has not yet ratified the deal, with Benjamin Netanyahu saying that Hamas were reneging on some parts of the agreement. See Also, Israel has continued air strikes on Gaza, with at least 73 killed on 16 January.
South Korea: president arrested
South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested, ending weeks of standoff at his fortified residence. Yoon recorded a video before being taken to a detention centre, criticising the ‘collapse of the rule of law’. While he complied with the arrest warrant to prevent violent clashes, he has refused to cooperate with investigators. The arrest involved 3,200 officers, some scaling barriers to access the property. A standoff earlier this month delayed his detention as his presidential security service resisted, leading to the arrest of its acting chief. Yoon’s martial law declaration on 3 December, which deployed troops to the National Assembly, lasted hours before lawmakers voted to end it. His impeachment on 14 December suspended his powers, with the opposition accusing him of rebellion. He had defended his actions as a warning to the opposition, whom he called ‘anti-state forces’. Pro- and anti-Yoon protests have drawn thousands in Seoul since his impeachment.
Sudan: shelling kills at least 120
On 13 January at least 120 people were killed by indiscriminate shelling in Omdurman, with the death toll expected to rise. Sudan's civil war, between the army and the paramilitary RSF, began 21 months ago. It has claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced over twelve million, and left the country on the brink of famine, described by the UN as a humanitarian disaster. Both sides have been accused of indiscriminately targeting civilians, including health workers, as fighting devastates Omdurman and neighbouring areas. Volunteers face severe challenges in accessing affected regions, and medical supplies are critically low. Recent weeks have seen the army intensify efforts to reclaim territory, seizing areas and confiscating weapons, while the RSF counterattacks. The recent skirmishes have forced emergency response rooms, which support local communities, to shut several health centres, affecting provision of medical services to thousands of residents.
South Africa: rescue operation at besieged illegal gold mine
A rescue operation is under way at a gold mine which has been under police siege since Aug as part of a government initiative targeting illegal mining, an industry valued at 60 billion rand a year. The siege, which included cutting off food and water, drew criticism from human rights organisations. In December a court ruled that volunteers could send down supplies to the trapped men, and recently ordered the state to launch a rescue operation. Rescuers, using metal cages to recover people from depths of over 2,000 metres, have now recovered 78 bodies and 216 survivors, who face charges of illegal mining, trespassing, and immigration violations. Miners' rights groups report that hundreds more survivors and dozens of bodies remain underground.
