Initially agreed for four days and extended for two more, the truce expired this Thursday at dawn, but the mediating countries in this conflict, Qatar, United States and Egyptthey pressured to obtain an extension that was obtained in extremis.
Minutes before the deadline, the Israeli army announced that, “in light of the mediators’ efforts to continue the hostage release process (…), operational pause will continue“. Shortly after, the Islamist movement Hamaswho rules in the Gaza Stripannounced in a statement an agreement to “extend the truce for a seventh day”.
Qatarmain mediator, confirmed through his Chancellery “an agreement to extend the humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip for an additional day under the same conditions“.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, Benjamin Netanyahuratified the extension after having received a new list of “women and children” hostages what will they be released this Thursday.
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Antony Blinken in Israel
The announcement of the extension came hours after arrival at Israel of the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkenwho estimated that the pause “it is giving results” and should continue.
“In the last week we saw the very positive news of the return of hostages to their homeswith their families,” he said Blinken in a meeting with the president of Israel, Isaac Herzogin Tel Aviv. “It also allowed us to increase the humanitarian assistance to innocent civilians in Gaza, who desperately need it. So this process is giving results. It’s important, and we hope it can continue,” she added.
Blinken is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu before going to West Bankthe other Palestinian territories, which are occupied and colonized by Israel from 1967.
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AFP
Truce in Gaza Strip: how many people have been released so far
The pact allowed a cessation of fighting began on October 7, when militants of Hamas They launched an attack on the south of Israel in which they killed 1,200 peoplemostly civiliansand they kidnapped some 240including a twenty Argentines. Among the dead are more than 300 soldiers.
Israel responded with a air and ground offensive on Gaza Strip that killed some 14,800 peopleincluding some 6,000 childrenand moved to 1.8 million Palestinians who had to leave their homes.
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Photo: EFE.
The truce agreement reached last week provides extensions If the Islamist movement frees ten hostages a daywhich are exchanged for 30 Palestinian prisonersbut both sides warned before the extension that they were ready to fight again.
Since November 24, the truce agreement allowed the release of 70 Israeli hostagesincluding a fortnight with Argentina Nationalityand release 210 Palestiniansthese last women or children under 19 years of age. Furthermore, a thirty foreign hostagesmostly thai that live in Israelwere released outside the framework of the agreement.
He Israeli army said Wednesday that it was investigating an advertisement for Hamas on death of a 10-month-old Argentine babyhis 4 year old brother and his mother that appear on the list of hostages captured on October 7.
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Israel and Hamas They plan to relaunch their offensives
The military arm of Hamas He urged his fighters to stay “in high military preparation (…) in anticipation of a resumption of fighting if (the truce) is not renewed.” For his part, an Israeli military spokesman, Doron Spielmansaid that the troops “will be placed in operating mode very quickly and will continue with the objectives in Loop“if the truce expired.
On Wednesday night, Hamas frees ten new Israeli hostagesincluding four with Argentina Nationalityunder the agreement, in addition to four thai and two Russian-Israelis outside of this scheme. Shortly after, the prison authority of Israel announced the release of another 30 Palestinian prisoners. According to Qatarare 16 minors and 14 women.
Among the last prisoners released was Ahed Tamimia 22-year-old activist who is a symbol of the Palestinian cause against the Israeli occupation of West Bank and Jerusalem this.
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International leaders demand a longer truce
The secretary general of the UN, Antonio Guterreshe claimed “a true humanitarian ceasefire” and said that Gazans suffer “an epic humanitarian catastrophe”.
China urged a “prolonged and lasting humanitarian truce” in a document from his chancellery, which also demanded “a comprehensive ceasefire” and the “release of all civilians and captive hostages”.
The truce allowed a considerable increase in the number of humanitarian aid arrival at the Gaza Stripsubjected to a “total siege” by Israel that cut off the supply of food, water, electricity or fuel. However, the situation remains “catastrophic”he judged World Food Program (WFP) which states that “there is a risk of famine”.
According to UN, 1.8 million of the 2.4 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip were displaced by the war and more than half of the households they find each other damaged or destroyed.
Source: Ambito
