Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip by two days, allowing for the release of more hostages. Israel confirmed that 11 hostages had arrived safely in Israeli territory. The release of these hostages brings the total number of detainees freed during the initial four-day pause in the fighting to 150. The freed hostages are dual nationals of France, Germany, and Argentina. The truce extension was welcomed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who called it “a glimpse of hope and humanity in the middle of the darkness of war.”
The extension of the truce comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to visit the Middle East. Blinken will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, where he will stress the need for humanitarian assistance, the release of all hostages, and the improvement of protection for civilians in Gaza. He will also discuss the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
The truce extension was facilitated by Qatar, with support from the United States and Egypt. Hamas, which triggered the war with an attack on southern Israel, has announced that it will release more hostages. Israel has made it clear that the pause in hostilities is intended to allow Hamas to free more of the hostages it has been holding since the attack.
While there have been calls for more humanitarian aid to reach civilians in Gaza, the territory remains short on essentials such as food, water, and medical supplies. The extension of the truce follows calls from US President Joe Biden, EU envoy Josep Borrell, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for a longer break in fighting.
The tearful reunions of families and hostages have provided relief from the images of civilian death and suffering during the war. The White House has welcomed the agreement to extend the truce and hopes that it will be further extended. The EU’s Borrell has called for a prolonged pause to work towards a political solution.
Despite the truce, the situation in Gaza remains dire, with no fuel reaching hospitals in the north of the territory. Gaza City has also suffered extensive destruction, and the lack of fuel has hindered efforts to pump clean water and clear waste from the streets. There are concerns of a potential public health “catastrophe.” The international community has called for independent investigations into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Israel and the Palestinian territories since the start of the conflict.
