The extension of the truce between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar, has opened the door to the possibility of prolonged relief in the war-torn Gaza Strip. This two-day extension, coupled with the release of additional hostages by Hamas, met with a reciprocal gesture from Israel as they announced plans to free more Palestinian prisoners. A significant development in these negotiations is the proposition put forth by Hamas, suggesting the release of all hostages in exchange for Israel releasing all Palestinian prisoners. However, the Israeli military has expressed concerns about granting Hamas more time to regroup and rebuild its capabilities.
The official spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a formal announcement: “The State of Qatar announces an agreement to extend the humanitarian truce for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip.” Prior to this announcement, Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypt’s State Information Service, hinted at an imminent extension, which included the release of 20 Israeli hostages in exchange for 60 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Hamas, responsible for taking around 250 hostages during its attack on Israel on October 7, has released 58 of them in three phases over the past four days. Israel had previously expressed its willingness to extend the truce by one day for every 10 hostages released. However, Hamas went a step further by offering to release all hostages in exchange for Israel releasing all Palestinian prisoners. This proposition, although supported by some Israeli families, has been rejected by the Israeli military as a form of “psychological terror.” Estimates indicate that there are currently around 8,000 Palestinians in Israeli custody.
Internally, there is immense pressure on the Benjamin Netanyahu government to secure the release of hostages, even if it means scaling back military operations in Gaza and abandoning the stated goal of ‘eradicating Hamas.’ Just a day after the successful exchange of hostages and prisoners between Israel and Hamas, thousands of Israelis gathered in front of the central military headquarters in Tel Aviv on Saturday. This demonstration aimed to keep pressure on the government to prioritize the return of all hostages over resuming military action in Gaza.
According to various reports in the public domain, the Israeli military, while committed to freeing as many hostages as possible, remains wary. An Israeli military official has expressed concern that the longer the truce lasts, the more time Hamas has to “rebuild its capabilities and attack Israel again.” Additionally, a prolonged ceasefire may elevate diplomatic pressure on Israel to refrain from resuming extensive bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, echoing the sentiment of an ongoing conflict, declared that the war, which started 50 days ago, is far from over. He reportedly conveyed to US President Joe Biden that Israel would resume its Gaza operation after the “imminent” end of the four-day ceasefire.
The White House welcomed the agreement to extend the truce, expressing hope that the humanitarian pause would continue for a more extended period.
The critical question that remains unanswered is whether Israel will succumb to domestic and international pressure and indefinitely stall its military operations in Gaza to secure the release of all hostages. Alternatively, it faces the risk of international backlash by resuming its bombardment of the Gaza Strip once the truce ends on Wednesday.
In a separate development, Qatar made a formal announcement regarding the truce extension, highlighting its ongoing role in mediating these negotiations. Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, engaged in intense negotiations, with the goal of establishing and prolonging the truce in Gaza. The initial truce aimed to free 50 civilian captives, primarily women and children, by Hamas. In return, Israel was expected to release 150 Palestinian prisoners and allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza.
During the first three days of the truce, 39 Israeli captives were released by Hamas in exchange for 117 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. In parallel negotiations led by Qatar, 17 Thai citizens, one Filipino, and one dual Russian-Israeli national were also released by Hamas.
The conflict originated when Hamas fighters seized about 240 hostages, storming from Gaza into southern Israel on October 7, resulting in approximately 1,200 casualties, according to Israeli officials. In response, Israel initiated a relentless bombing campaign and a ground offensive in Gaza, leading to nearly 15,000 casualties, including over 6,000 children, as reported by Palestinian officials.
The White House, in response to the truce extension, expressed hope that Americans would be among the captives to be released in the next phase of exchanges. It is estimated that eight to nine U.S. citizens are still held among the hostages.
The United Nations Chief welcomed the two-day extension as a “glimpse of hope and humanity.” However, a note of caution was sounded, emphasizing that this period may not be sufficient to meet the aid needs of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, 17 hostages, including 13 Israelis, three Thais, and one Russian, were successfully transferred to Israel from Gaza by Hamas. In parallel, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners who received a grand welcome in Ramallah, the capital of the West Bank.
As developments unfold, Hamas confirmed on Monday its agreement with Qatar and Egypt for a two-day extension of the truce with Israel, under the same conditions as the previous four-day ceasefire. The ongoing deal brokered by Qatar and Egypt aims to halt hostilities between Israel and Hamas in exchange for humanitarian aid for Gazans.
So far, Hamas has freed 58 captives as part of the deal. This includes 24 hostages released on Friday, followed by 17 on Saturday, and an additional 17 on Sunday.
In conclusion, the extension of the truce brings both hope and challenges to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. While it provides an opportunity for prolonged relief in the war-torn Gaza Strip and the release of hostages, it also raises concerns for Israel’s military about giving Hamas more time to regroup. The delicate balance between diplomatic negotiations, public pressure, and the ongoing conflict dynamics will shape the decisions of the involved parties in the coming days. The question remains whether the truce will be further extended or if Israel will resume military operations, impacting the course of the long-standing conflict in the region.