Intensive discussions are underway to secure a second extension of the truce in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as the agreed pause in fighting nears its expiration.
Crucial negotiations continued Wednesday on the terms of extending the truce, which is expected to end early Thursday. The negotiations, involving both sides as well as the United States, Qatar and Egypt, focused on the length of the extension and the exchange of captives for prisoners.
The initial four-day truce began on Friday. Despite some minor clashes, she was then sent back for two more days.
During this period, Hamas released 81 of the prisoners, mostly Israeli nationals, that it had captured during an attack on southern Israel on October 7.
In exchange, Israel released 180 Palestinian prisoners, including women and children, many of whom had been held in administrative detention for years without charge. At the same time, Israel has arrested almost as many Palestinians as released prisoners.
“Epic humanitarian disaster”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged parties to seek a “genuine humanitarian ceasefire” to address the “epic” humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, caused by weeks of relentless Israeli attacks that have displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and a siege that has reduced access to basic necessities such as food, fuel, water and electricity.
“In a matter of weeks, far more children have been killed by (Israeli’s) military operations in Gaza than the total number of children killed each year by any party to a conflict since I have been secretary-general “, Guterres told the UN Security Council on Wednesday.
“Over the past few days, people in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel have finally seen a glimmer of hope and humanity in so much darkness. »
The Israel Broadcasting Corporation reported that Israel was considering another extension. “It depends on the conduct of Hamas,” an Israeli politician was quoted as saying.
Israel had previously said it was willing to extend the truce by one day for 10 captives freed by Hamas, and an Israeli official told the Reuters news agency on Wednesday that Israel believed Hamas had enough women and children held in captivity to extend the current truce for another two to three days.
The Wall Street Journal further reported that Israel was open to further negotiations on the release of the men and soldiers.once all children and women are freed.”
Ghazi Hamad, a member of the Hamas politburo, told ManhattanTribune: “We are working hard and we hope to be able to extend the ceasefire for several days, until we reach its complete end. We are ready to release more hostages for the extension. »
“I hope this can be implemented today,” he added.
However, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday hailed the return of dozens of captives as a “very great achievement,” he stressed that Israel was not, for the moment, interested in a permanent ceasefire. .
“It is impossible that we will not resume the fight until the end,” he said. “This is my policy, the whole cabinet supports it, the whole government supports it, the soldiers support it, the people support it – that’s exactly what we will do. »
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has called on the UN Security Council to “assume its responsibilities” and impose a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
“The danger is that if this truce expires, we will return to massacres on the scale that we have seen, which is unbearable,” he told reporters at UN headquarters.
“We are here to make a clear statement: a truce is not enough. What is needed is a ceasefire,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, said in a Telegram post on Wednesday that it had released two Russian captives at the request of the Russian government.
The group also claimed that three captives, including the youngest – a 10-month-old child, as well as his four-year-old brother and mother – had been killed in previous Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli military said in a statement that it was investigating the allegation and that Hamas was “fully responsible” for the safety of all captives held in Gaza.
Five categories
On Wednesday, from occupied East Jerusalem, ManhattanTribune’s Imran Khan said there were “leaks that negotiations are underway between Israel and Hamas to release additional prisoners and extend the ceasefire.” of five days.
If successful, the next phase of the truce and release of captives would be based on five categories, our correspondent said: “Israeli captives; elderly men who are too old to be reservists; female soldiers; reserve soldiers; then the bodies of Israelis killed before or during captivity.
“There also seem to be positive noises coming from Hamas on this subject. Hamas, according to leaked categories, has said that it is very keen to respect what the Israelis want,” Khan added.
Hamad confirmed that the group was ready to discuss the release of captured men and soldiers, as well as women and children.
“This point is now on the table,” the Hamas official told ManhattanTribune. “For all captives, whether military or civilian. We always discuss this with the mediators in order to reach a satisfactory compromise.”
