Gaza: Calls for extension of truce mount as more captives gain freedom

Calls for the extension of truce between Israel and Hamas has gained momentum as more captives from the two sides gained freedom over the weekend. The United States, Egypt and Qatar highlighted the need for the war to be paused to pave the way for humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza who have been largely affected by the conflict that has killed more than 14,500 people, majorly women and children…

The governments of Egypt, Qatar and the United States have joined growing members of the international community pressing for the four-day truce between Israel and Hamas to be extended.

The four-day truce agreed last week is the first pause in fighting following the October 7 attack by Hamas, killing 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages back into Gaza.

In response to that attack, Israel has bombarded the densely populated area and mounted a ground offensive in the north.
Some 14,800 Palestinians were killed in the violent retaliatory offensives and hundreds of thousands displaced, according to the health ministry in the besieged enclave.

On Sunday, thirty-nine teenage Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel, taking the total since the truce began to 117.

Hamas said it had handed over 13 Israelis, three Thais and one with Russian citizenship, and the International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed it had successfully transferred them from Gaza on Sunday.

Meanwhile, more Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners are due to be released on Monday, on the final day of the current truce period.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also hinted that he would welcome extending the temporary ceasefire if it meant that on every additional day 10 captives held in Gaza would be freed.