On Wednesday, the final day of an extended six-day truce in the Gaza Strip conflict, Hamas and Israel were anticipated to free further hostages and inmates. At the same time, attention was focused on whether or not Qatar, the mediator, could arrange another extension of the truce.
It was claimed by Israeli media, citing the office of the prime minister, that Israel has obtained a list of hostages that Hamas is due to free on Wednesday. Currently, the office of the Prime Minister does not have any statement.
Israel has stated that the ceasefire might be extended for an additional period, provided that Hamas continues to release at least ten Israeli hostages every single day. To keep the guns silent beyond Wednesday, however, it may be necessary to negotiate the release of at least some Israeli males for the first time because there are fewer women and children still being held captive.
The associated group Islamic Jihad and the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas released twenty-one hostages on Tuesday. This brings the total number of captives released since the truce began on Friday to 81. Most of those individuals have been Israeli women, children, and nationals of other countries.
In addition to a mother-and-daughter duo, the captives ranged in age from 17 to 84 years old and consisted of ten Israeli women and two Thai residents. Initial medical examinations were performed on each individual, and then they were transferred to Israeli hospitals, where they were to meet their relatives.
Approximately a few moments later, Israel freed thirty Palestinians from Ofer Prison, which is located in the occupied West Bank, as well as from a detention center in Jerusalem. Half of the prisoners were female, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Club, which is a semi-official organization. The remaining prisoners were male teenagers. As a result, the total number of Palestinians released during the truce reached 180.
The captives were among the approximately 240 individuals who were taken captive by Hamas terrorists during their raid into southern Israel on October 7. Israel claims that 1,200 people were murdered during this attack. More than 15,000 Gazans have been killed as a result of Israel’s retaliatory shelling of Gaza, which is governed by Hamas, according to the health authorities in Gaza.
A meeting between the heads of intelligence for Israel’s Mossad and the United States Central Intelligence Agency took place on Tuesday in Qatar, which was the mediator in indirect talks between Israel and Hamas that led to the truce.
A source briefed on the topic stated that the officials discussed the parameters of a new phase of the truce accord. One of the elements that was addressed was the possibility of Hamas releasing captives who are male or military professionals rather than merely women and children. In addition, they contemplated the factors that could be required to achieve a truce that would persist for more than a few days.
Before the meeting, Qatar had a conversation with Hamas to understand what the group would be willing to agree to. The insider further stated that the Israelis and Hamas are currently having internal discussions on the ideas that were discussed during the meeting.
On the other hand, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven nations issued a joint statement on Tuesday in which they urged for an extension of the ceasefire and an increase in the amount of humanitarian supplies.
Gaza is still holding around 159 captives. On Tuesday, the White House said this includes eight to nine people from the United States. John Kirby, a spokeswoman for the United States Department of National Security, stated that the United States was hoping that Hamas would release additional Americans and that the United States government would collaborate with Qatar to extend the break in conflict.
“We hope that all of the hostages will be released. Kirby explained to reporters who were flying on the president’s jet on Tuesday these pauses are the means by which this may be accomplished.
A WARNING THAT THE DISEASE IS CAUSING CONTINUOUS DEATHS IN GAZA
Gaza is experiencing its first reprieve as a result of the ceasefire, which comes after seven weeks of warfare and shelling that has left a significant portion of the coastal territory to rubble. Initially, it was scheduled to expire overnight into Tuesday, but all parties agreed to prolong the halt to make room for the release of additional individuals.
Israel’s siege of Gaza has resulted in the breakdown of the country’s health care system, particularly in the northern region, where there are no facilities that are still operational. The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that more Gazans may die from disease shortly than from bombardment. Furthermore, many Gazans lacked access to food, medications, vaccinations, safe water, and hygiene supplies.
Israel has been responsible for the destruction of more than two-thirds of Gaza’s population, which is around 2.3 million people. As a result, many families have been forced to sleep rough in temporary shelters, with only the possessions they could bring with them. They have a severe lack of food, fuel, and clean water,
“The humanitarian situation that we are in is quite dire. At the same time, we are seeking the complete and immediate release of all hostages, which we feel ought to be unconditional and that should take place immediately. However, we require a humanitarian truce in Gaza at this very moment,” Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, spoke to the press on Tuesday.
As a result of the interim truce, around 800 assistance vehicles have been able to enter Gaza. On Tuesday, the first three planes carrying humanitarian supplies for Gaza landed in Egypt.
Martin Griffiths, the director of the United Nations’ assistance agency, was scheduled to fly to Amman, the capital of Jordan, on Wednesday to explore the possibility of opening the Kerem Shalom border, which would allow humanitarian supplies to enter Gaza from Israel.
Before the battle that is now taking place, the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is situated at the junction of Israel, the Gaza Strip, and Egypt, was responsible for transporting more than sixty percent of the aid that was pouring into Gaza.
The Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border, intended for pedestrian rather than vehicle crossings, is currently the route via which aid is delivered to Gaza.
Comment Template