Israel and Hamas maintained a two-day cease-fire
Hours before the truce was scheduled to end on Tuesday, mediator Qatar announced that more inmates had been released from Gaza in exchange for the release of dozens of Palestinian prisoners, extending the truce between Israel and Hamas by two days.
In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, Qatar’s foreign ministry announced, “The Palestinian and Israeli sides have reached an agreement to extend the humanitarian pause in Gaza for two additional days under the same conditions.”
The extension was also confirmed by the Palestinian resistance organization Hamas, and according to Israeli media, the government has obtained a fresh list of ten more prisoners who would be released. But there was no official statement from Israel.
The announcement of the extension coincided with the release of 33 Palestinian inmates, the final trade under the current agreement, and the release of 11 more prisoners from Gaza during the course of the previous night.
International support greeted the truce’s prolongation, which had been set to expire at 7:00 am (0500 GMT).
It was described as “a glimpse of hope and humanity in the middle of the darkness of war” by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
After Hamas’ raid on October 7, Israel launched a vicious land and air campaign of retaliation that resulted in the deaths of almost 15,000 civilians, the majority of whom were children.
Eleven prisoners entered Israel late on Monday, according to the IDF there.
According to a statement, “Our forces will accompany them until they are reunited with their families,” and the armed forces “salutes and embraces the released hostages upon their return home”.
The community reported that all 11 of the group, who are mostly dual nationals and include Argentinians, Germans, and French, were from the Nir Oz kibbutz.
Kibbutz administrator Osnat Peri remarked that while the releases were “a sigh of relief to our community,” “we remain deeply concerned about our loved ones that are still held hostage.”
Israel’s jail authority announced the release of thirty-three Palestinian convicts shortly after the arrival of the captives was verified.
Prisoner Muhammad Abu Al-Humus in east Jerusalem greeted those arriving by coach with green Hamas flags, calling his release “an indescribable joy” and kissing his mother’s hand as he entered his home.
However, Palestinians were reportedly hurling stones and burning tires during skirmishes with Israeli forces near the Ofer prison. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, one person died.
Overall, the peace agreement has resulted in the release of 50 Israeli inmates in exchange for 150 Palestinian detainees. Nineteen other hostages, including Thai laborers and a dual Russian-Israeli citizen, have also been freed under other accords.
Though it is believed that the procedure is hindered by the fact that certain captives are held by other armed organizations, Hamas said it was currently compiling a list of other prisoners to be released.
“Hamas has committed to releasing another 20 women and children in order to extend the pause,” stated John Kirby, a spokesman for the US National Security Council.
Israel intends to carry with its war, with the government having approved a 30.3 billion shekel ($8.2 billion) war budget that will now be presented to parliament. Israel sees the truce as a stopgap measure to ensure the release of captives.
However, there is growing pressure on it to implement a longer-term truce and increase humanitarian relief to Gaza, where the UN estimates that 1.7 million people have been displaced.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to visit the Middle East this week for the third time during a war, where he will meet with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in Ramallah and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.
“The secretary will stress the need to sustain the increased flow of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, secure the release of all hostages and improve protection to civilians in Gaza,” a top US diplomat stated.
“The principles he laid out for the future of Gaza and the need to establish an independent Palestinian state,” the person continued, will be discussed.
In Gaza, the health ministry operated by Hamas said that despite the ceasefire, no fuel had arrived for generators at hospitals in the northern part of the enclave.
Moreover, UN representative Tor Wennesland issued a warning, saying the humanitarian situation “remains catastrophic.”
The UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process stated that in order to lessen the indescribable suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, it “requires the urgent entry of additional aid and supplies in a smooth, predictable, and continuous manner.”
After fighting broke out in northern Gaza, Palestinians were able to return to Gaza City, which had been severely damaged by constant Israeli bombardment, thanks to the truce.
People rode bicycles or strolled around streets lined with wreckage, where buildings and cars had been completely destroyed.
Yahya al-Siraj, the mayor of Gaza City, issued a warning about a possible “catastrophe” for public health when he stated that the region could not pump clean water or remove rubbish that was piling up in the streets without gasoline.
Numerous people have suffered terrible injuries from the fighting, which have been difficult for Gaza’s doctors to treat due to a lack of resources.
The largest hospital in Gaza, Al-Shifa, was undergoing cleanup. Israel had bombed the facility, claiming it was being utilized by Hamas as a command center.
“We hope it can soon resume its activities,” Mahmud Hammad, a spokesman for the Gaza health ministry, stated.
After escaping from Gaza into Egypt, a small group of Palestinians, including seven-year-old Yussef, who chewed on his nails next to his mother Nouzha Fawzi, were evacuated to the United Arab Emirates for treatment.
She stated, “He wasn’t like that before,” referring to Yussef, who has hemophilia.
“Since the war, he no longer speaks much. He is afraid of everything,” she added. “He asks me if he will die
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.
