Three-year-old twins were among the last hostages released by Hamas on Monday as officials said the ceasefire between Israel and the Gaza Strip would be extended for another two days.
Eleven hostages “are now on Israeli soil” after being released as part of the fourth wave of prisoner exchanges, the Israeli military said. Thirty-three Palestinian prisoners held in Israel after being arrested for various crimes were also released and sent to the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah.
The prisoners were greeted with loud applause as their bus passed through the streets.
Emma and Yuli Kunio, three, along with their mother Sharon Aloni Kunio, were among the hostages released on Monday, seven weeks after they were kidnapped on October 7 from Kibbutz Nir Oz near the Gaza Strip border. The others released on Monday also come from the kibbutz.
Osnat Peri, head of the kibbutz, said: “Today’s news brings a sigh of relief to our community, but we remain deeply concerned about the fate of our loved ones who are still being held hostage.” everything that is necessary.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially agreed to a four-day cessation of hostilities to allow the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for increased aid and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
The temporary ceasefire, which came into force on Friday, was due to expire on Tuesday morning after four waves of hostage releases, but has now been extended for another 48 hours until Thursday.
Late Monday, Israel Army Radio reported that the government had received a list of hostages held by Hamas who were expected to be released on Tuesday as part of an extended ceasefire.
News site Axios reported that there were 10 hostages on the list.
Hamas also said it had agreed to extend the ceasefire by two days “on the same terms as before,” and IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said the country was committed to implementing the agreement “in the coming days,” although he stressed that “nothing is happening ” the final”. until it actually happens.”
The international community, including US President Joe Biden, has pushed for a further extension of the ceasefire, with previous reports suggesting a 10-day truce was possible.
Mr Biden thanked the leaders of Israel, Qatar and Egypt “for their commitment to this process and for reaching an agreement on an extension in the next 48 hours,” adding: “We will not stop until they are all hostages held by Hamas terrorists. were released.”
The US leader also said: “We will take full advantage of the lull in the fight to increase the level of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and we will continue our efforts to build a future of peace and dignity for the Palestinian people.”
Biden’s national security spokesman, John Kirby, said the extension of the ceasefire would lead to the release of 20 more Israeli women and children on Thursday.
“We certainly hope that the pause will be extended further, but this will depend on whether Hamas continues to release the hostages,” he said. “We are grateful that we have two extra days to work, and we would certainly like it to go on longer until we get all the hostages home where they belong.”
He added: “The approach we are taking with Israel and its partners in the region is working: help comes, there is a lull in the fighting, hostages are released, Americans leave. We will continue to urge the Israelis to exercise utmost consideration for innocent civilians during military operations.”
Mr Kirby said there was a “real risk” that Hamas would benefit from a long pause, adding: “We are watching this closely, as are our Israeli colleagues.” [so far] We are ready to take on the release of these hostages.”
The US is Israel’s key military partner and gives Biden significant influence, although Netanyahu has repeatedly shown a willingness to challenge the broader international community.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has repeatedly clashed with the Israeli government during the crisis, said the new agreement was a “breath of hope and humanity” but stressed the need for a “full humanitarian ceasefire” for the benefit of the people of Israel. Israel in the Gaza Strip, Israel and the region as a whole.”
Mr Netanyahu stressed that the temporary ceasefire does not mean the end of the war in the Gaza Strip. He vowed to continue his plan to “destroy” Hamas and stressed that Israeli forces were using the pause to prepare for the next round of fighting.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told troops on Monday that it would be “several days” before fighting resumed. Times of IsraelHe added that the IDF will “fight across the entire strip” if the ceasefire breaks down.
Some 77 Israelis with dual and foreign citizenship were released by Hamas between Friday and Sunday, while 117 Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons.
Almost all of those released by Hamas are women and children abducted on October 7, and about half of those released by Israel after being arrested for various crimes are under 18 years of age.
Among the hostages released so far under the agreement is four-year-old Abigail Edan, who was orphaned and captured when Hamas militants attacked her family’s home in Kibbutz Kfar Azza.
Abigail, a US-Israeli citizen who witnessed the murder of both her parents, was pictured laughing after she was reunited with her aunt Liron and uncle Zuli at a medical center in Israel on Monday after seven weeks in captivity in the Gaza Strip.
Mr Biden said: “I have spoken with Abigail’s family since her release, and we are working closely with our Israeli partners to ensure she receives the care and support she needs as she begins to recover from this unspeakable trauma.”
Another freed hostage, 84-year-old Elma Abraham, remains in critical condition after being released Sunday after weeks without medication or proper medical care, Hagary said, adding that more hostages would be rescued “at any cost.”
It is believed that up to 175 hostages may still be held in the Gaza Strip, held by Hamas, other jihadist groups and smaller armed gangs, although it is unclear how many Hamas has access to.
An estimated 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 taken hostage when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, the deadliest mass killing of Jews since the Holocaust. Since then, Israel has waged a military campaign in Gaza aimed at eliminating Hamas, which has controlled the region since 2006.
At least 14,854 people have been killed in Israeli bombing and ground offensives in the Gaza Strip, a densely populated strip of land with two million inhabitants, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip Health Ministry.
International NGOs warn that the conflict and ongoing blockade have turned the Gaza Strip into a major humanitarian crisis, with most hospitals no longer functioning and severe shortages of food, fuel and drinking water.
International mediators have played a key role in negotiating some smaller agreements, including the opening of the Gaza-Egypt border crossing, allowing foreign citizens to leave the Gaza Strip and bring in humanitarian aid. However, Palestinians are not allowed to leave the Gaza Strip, effectively trapping them with no way out.
Source: I News
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