Morning Briefing, Jan. 20, 2025

ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Monday with, including Israel releasing 90 Palestinian detainees as part of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal, Hamas handing over three Israeli captives to the Red Cross, and TikTok beginning to restore its service in the US.

TOP STORIES

• Israel releases 90 Palestinian prisoners under Gaza ceasefire deal

Israel released 90 Palestinian detainees from Ofer Military Prison in the occupied West Bank as part of a prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas.

Palestinians gathered in the town of Beitunia, near Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank to welcome them.

Israeli soldiers intervened by firing tear gas and sound bombs intermittently at the crowd, who were using fire to stay warm due to the cold.

As the time neared 1 a.m., a large number of Israeli military jeeps and bulldozers raided Beitunia.

• Hamas hands over 3 Israeli captives to Red Cross under Gaza cease-fire deal

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas handed over three Israeli captives to the Red Cross under the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.

The three captives were handed over by Hamas’s armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, at Saraya Square in central Gaza City, according to an Anadolu reporter.

The Israeli army confirmed that it was notified by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that the three captives — Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher — had been handed over.

• TikTok begins restoring service in US after Trump assurances

After going "dark" earlier Sunday, TikTok announced that it was in the process of restoring services to its US users following assurances from President-elect Donald Trump.

"In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service," the app said on X after Trump promised to take executive action and "save" the popular video platform following the implementation of a federal ban.

"We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive," it added.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• At least eight Palestinians were killed and more than 25 injured in Israeli attacks in different areas of the Gaza Strip despite a ceasefire agreement that was set to take effect at 8.30 a.m. local time (0630GMT) according to the timeline agreed by mediators Qatar, Egypt and the US.
• US President-elect Donald Trump pledged to act quickly after his swearing-in ceremony to fix problems from the outgoing Biden administration.
• Spain expressed its support for the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the release by Hamas of the first three Israeli hostages, who had been held for more than 15 months.
• Britain’s prime minister called for the full and timely implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, which came into effect earlier in the day.
• Security forces in Syria discovered a drug warehouse used by the ousted Assad regime for Captagon trafficking at a port in western Latakia.
• Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani held discussions with outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on ways to implement the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip as well as developments in Syria.
• Over 550 humanitarian aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing on the first day of implementing the ceasefire agreement.
• Pope Francis urged all parties to implement the Gaza ceasefire agreement and expressed gratitude to mediators during his weekly address, Vatican News reported.
• Hours after a Gaza ceasefire and hostage exchange deal came into effect, US President Joe Biden described it as “one of the toughest negotiations” he has been part of while emphasizing that the Middle East has been "fundamentally transformed."
• Turkish authorities announced the extradition of organized crime ringleader Ercan Yilmaz and his accomplice Ibrahim Kaymak from Armenia, with both individuals sought under Interpol red notices.
• The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa, met in Damascus with a Norwegian ministerial delegation in the first official meeting between the two nations since last month’s fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime.
• Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal with Hamas has come at a “high cost” for Israel.
• Russia said its forces took control of another settlement in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, where Moscow continues to claim advances amid an ongoing regional offensive.

SPORTS

• Florentino Perez re-elected unopposed as Real Madrid's president

Florentino Perez was re-elected as Real Madrid’s president after running for the position unopposed, the Spanish La Liga club announced Sunday.

The 77-year-old, who served as president between 2000 and 2006 and since 2009, was re-elected with a mandate until 2029.

Perez has not faced off against an opposition candidate since reclaiming his post in 2009, including elections in 2013, 2017, 2021 and now in 2025.

• Manchester City smash Ipswich Town 6-0 in Premier League

Manchester City smashed Ipswich Town 6-0 in an English Premier League week 22 game.

The Citizens' English winger Phil Foden starred with two goals, in the 27th and 42nd minutes, and one assist at Ipswich's Portman Road stadium.

The Sky Blues' skipper Kevin De Bruyne provided two assists, while goals were scored by James McAtee in the sixth minute, Mateo Kovacic in the 30th minute, Jeremy Doku in the 49th minute, and Erling Haaland in the 57th minute.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Palestine Monetary Authority directs banks to resume services in Gaza

The Palestine Monetary Authority instructed banks to prepare their branches for the resumption of services in the Gaza Strip as a ceasefire came into effect.

The monetary authority said in a statement that its governor, Yahya Al-Shunnar, met with representatives of banks operating in Palestine.

The statement added that the meeting discussed "the measures required to resume banking services for the people in Gaza."

• Türkiye's TPAO eyes investment opportunities in Libya's energy sector

Türkiye's state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) is ready to invest in Libya's energy sector, banking on the country’s vast untapped resources, said General Manager Ahmet Turkoglu.

Speaking at the Libya Energy and Economic Summit (LEES) 2025 in Tripoli at a panel titled "Libya: At the Nexus of the Global Energy Trade," Turkoglu underscored TPAO’s renewed interest in Libya as part of its global expansion strategy.

“We are here because we see great potential,” Turkoglu said, citing the North African nation's ambition to boost oil production to 2 million barrels per day. “I am sure Libya will achieve much more.”