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From the Liveblog of
Thursday, January 16, 2025
Shas chair Deri says barriers holding up hostage-ceasefire deal with Hamas have been overcome
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri attends a vote at the assembly hall of Knesset in Jerusalem, on December 31, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/ Flash90)
Shas chairman Aryeh Deri announces that the barriers preventing the implementation of a ceasefire deal with Hamas have been dealt with.
“A few minutes ago I received a final announcement that all obstacles have been overcome and the deal is underway,” Deri states at his party’s annual conference. “Now they are busy with the final technical wording. I want to congratulate Prime Minister Netanyahu, he is responsible for the agreement.”