Truce Between Israel and Hamas Extended as Details Remain Unclear
A truce between Israel and Hamas has been extended, according to both sides, just moments before the deal was set to expire. While the extension has been confirmed, the details of any official agreement are still unclear.
The Israeli military announced that the “operational pause” would be extended, without specifying the duration. Hamas also confirmed the extension of the truce for a seventh day, but did not provide further information. Qatar, which has been leading the truce negotiations, confirmed that the pause had been extended until Friday.
The decision to extend the truce comes amidst pressure to allow for more hostage releases and provide additional aid to the devastated Gaza Strip. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel for talks on Wednesday night, further emphasizing the importance of extending the pause.
The truce, which began on October 7, has brought a temporary halt to the fighting that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the kidnapping of approximately 240 individuals, according to Israeli authorities. In response, Israel launched an air and ground campaign in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of nearly 15,000 people, mostly civilians, according to Hamas officials.
Under the truce agreement, Hamas can extend the pause by releasing another 10 hostages per day. On Wednesday, Hamas offered to free seven hostages and hand over the bodies of three individuals who were killed in Israeli bombardment. However, their offer was refused just an hour before the truce was set to expire.
Both sides had previously stated their readiness to return to fighting if the truce ended. The armed wing of Hamas warned its fighters to maintain high military readiness in anticipation of a resumption of combat. The IDF spokesperson also stated that troops would quickly move into operational mode and continue targeting Gaza if the truce expired.
During the truce, additional hostages were released, including four Thai hostages and two Israeli-Russian women. Video footage released by Hamas showed masked gunmen handing hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Among those freed was Liat Beinin, who holds American citizenship and works as a guide at Israel’s Holocaust museum Yad Vashem. US President Joe Biden expressed his satisfaction with the release, stating that the deal has delivered meaningful results.
In addition to the hostage releases, 30 Palestinian prisoners, including activist Ahed Tamimi, were released by Israel. Since the truce began, 70 Israeli hostages have been freed in exchange for 210 Palestinian prisoners. Approximately 30 foreigners, mostly Thais living in Israel, have also been released outside the terms of the deal.
While Israel sees the truce as a temporary halt intended to free hostages, there are growing calls for a more sustained pause in fighting. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres demanded a true humanitarian ceasefire, emphasizing that Gazans are facing an epic humanitarian catastrophe. China also urged an immediate sustained humanitarian truce.
The truce has brought both joy and agony to families awaiting the release of their loved ones. Four-year-old Abigail, who was captured after her father was killed by militants, was miraculously freed. However, there are also reports of tragic deaths, such as a claim by Hamas’s armed wing that a 10-month-old baby, his four-year-old brother, and their mother were killed in an Israeli bombing.
The violence in Gaza has resulted in an estimated 1.7 million people being forced to leave their homes and limited access to essential resources such as food, water, medicine, and fuel. Conditions in the territory remain catastrophic, with a high risk of famine, according to the World Food Programme.
The truce has allowed displaced individuals to return to their homes, but many find that there is little left. Taghrid Al-Najjar, who returned to her home in southeastern Gaza, discovered that her house had been completely destroyed after 27 years of building it.
The violence in Gaza has also heightened tensions in the West Bank, where nearly 240 Palestinians have been killed since October 7. The latest deaths include an eight-year-old boy and a teenager who were killed after suspects hurled explosive devices towards Israeli troops.
As the truce is extended, the hope is that further negotiations will lead to a more comprehensive and lasting agreement that addresses the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and brings an end to the violence.