Israel and Hamas yesterday appeared open to extending a ceasefire in Gaza that has halted their deadliest and most destructive war, but is set to expire at 7am GMT today, with a fourth exchange of militant-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel planned for later in the day.
Israel has said it would extend the truce by one day for every 10 additional hostages released. Hamas has also said it hopes to extend the four-day truce, which came into effect on Friday after several weeks of indirect negotiations mediated by the US, Qatar and Egypt.
However, Israel also says it remains committed to crushing Hamas’ military capabilities and ending its 16-year rule over Gaza after its Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel. That would likely mean expanding a ground offensive from devastated northern Gaza to the south, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have crammed into UN shelters, and where dire conditions persist, despite the increased delivery of aid under the truce.
Photo: Reuters
Israel is to resume its operations with “full force” as soon as the current deal expires if Hamas does not agree to further hostage releases, with the goal of eliminating the group and freeing the rest of the captives, government spokesperson Eylon Levy told reporters yesterday.
Two Egyptian officials said talks are aimed at extending the ceasefire for another four days, with one saying that both sides have agreed in principle. However, that official added that violence in the occupied West Bank is complicating matters, with Hamas demanding an end to Israeli military raids.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.
The release of dozens of people — mostly women and children who were among the roughly 240 captured by Hamas and other militants during the Oct. 7 raid that ignited the war — has rallied Israelis behind calls to return the rest of them.
Sixty-two hostages have been released — almost all during the current truce. Previously, one was also freed by Israeli forces and two were found dead inside Gaza.
Hamas and other militants could still be holding up to 175 hostages — enough to potentially extend the ceasefire for two-and-a-half weeks — but those include a number of soldiers, and the militants are likely to make much greater demands for their release.
On Sunday, Hamas freed 17 hostages, including 14 Israelis, and Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners — the third such exchange under the truce.
Among those released on Sunday were three Thai nationals. With a total of 17 freed, Thailand said it was pursuing the safe return of the 15 remaining Thai hostages, who were the largest group of non-Israelis held by the militants.
The Palestinian prisoners released were mostly teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces, or of less-serious offenses.
Additional reporting by AFP
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