Tuesday, Israel and Hamas agreed to a two-day extension of a truce that allows Israeli hostages to be released from Gaza in exchange for the release of Palestinian detainees.
The extension was confirmed by mediator Qatar and Palestinian militant group Hamas, and Israeli media reported that the government had obtained a new list of ten more hostages who would be released.
The latest truce in warfare expired without incident at 7:00 a.m. (0500 GMT), when 11 additional Israeli hostages were released from Gaza overnight.
Israel responded by releasing another 33 Palestinian inmates – the final swap under the first agreement.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised the event as “a ray of hope and humanity in the midst of the darkness of war.”
The cease-fire ended violence that began on October 7 when Hamas militants crossed the border into Israel, murdering 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and capturing hundreds more.
According to the Gaza Strip’s Hamas government, Israel’s retaliatory ground and air campaign has killed around 15,000 Palestinians, largely civilians.
Despite the truce prolongation, Israel has committed to pursue its military objectives of defeating Hamas and releasing all 240 hostages held in the conflict zone.
‘Sigh of relief’
The military claimed eleven hostages arrived in Israel late Monday and that “our forces will accompany them until they are reunited with their families.”
The majority of those released are dual nationals, including Argentinians, French, and Germans, and all 11 are from the Nir Oz kibbutz, according to the community.
Osnat Peri, a kibbutz official, said the releases offered “a sigh of relief to our community, but we remain deeply concerned about our loved ones who are still held hostage.”
Images provided by the Israeli military showed Eitan Yahalomi, a French-Israeli infant, reuniting with his mother, who clutched him tightly to her.
Shortly after the captives’ arrival was verified, Israel’s jail authority announced the release of 33 Palestinian inmates.
Muhammad Abu Al-Humus, a prisoner in annexed east Jerusalem, described his release “an indescribable joy” and kissed his mother’s hand as he entered his home.
Crowds greeted people arriving on a coach in the West Bank town of Beitunia, waving green Hamas flags.
However, there were conflicts between Palestinians and Israeli troops near Ofer jail, with Palestinians burning tires and throwing stones. According to the Palestinian health ministry, one person was murdered.
‘Unbearable suffering’
Under the terms of the agreement, 50 Israeli hostages were exchanged for 150 Palestinian detainees. Another 19 people, including Thai workers and a dual Russian-Israeli citizen, have been released in separate arrangements.
Hamas has stated that it is currently compiling a list of further hostages to be released, though the process is apparently complicated by the fact that some are held by other militant groups.
According to John Kirby, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, “in order to extend the pause, Hamas has committed to releasing another 20 women and children.”
Israel regards the truce as temporary in order to obtain hostage releases and intends to continue its battle, with the government agreeing to a war budget of 30.3 billion shekels ($8.2 billion) that will now be submitted to parliament.
However, it is under increasing pressure to implement a more permanent 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 will visit the Middle East for the third time this week, meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in Ramallah.
“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 high-ranking US official said.
Blinken would speak about “the principles he laid out for the future of Gaza and the need to establish an independent Palestinian state,” according to the official.
‘Catastrophic’
Despite the truce, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported no fuel had arrived for generators at hospitals in the territory’s north.
Tor Wennesland, a senior UN official, cautioned that the humanitarian situation “remains catastrophic.”
Residents who escaped fighting in northern Gaza have been able to return to Gaza City, which has been devastated by Israeli shelling.
People strolled or rode their bikes down debris-strewn streets where automobiles had been flattened and buildings had been ripped apart.
The Israeli army was cleaning up Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa, which it claimed Hamas had used as a command center.
“We hope it can soon resume its activities,” said Gaza health ministry spokesman Mahmud Hammad.
After crossing from Gaza to Egypt, a small number of Palestinians were evacuated to the United Arab Emirates for treatment, including seven-year-old Yussef, who gnawed on his nails next to his mother Nouzha Fawzi.
“He was not like that before,” she said of Yussef, who suffers the blood disorder hemophilia.
“Since the war, he no longer speaks much. He is afraid of everything,” she added. “He asks me if he will die.”