29-11-2023 (GAZA) In a significant development on November 28, a fresh cohort of hostages was liberated from captivity in Gaza as part of an extended truce, with mediators striving to establish a lasting ceasefire amid the prolonged seven-week conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Ten Israelis and two Thais were released and handed over to the Red Cross, officially within Israeli territory, as confirmed by the military. In return, Israel’s prison services reported the release of 30 Palestinian detainees under the terms of the truce agreement.
Masked and armed fighters, representing both Hamas and Islamic Jihad, were observed by an AFP journalist handing over the freed hostages to Red Cross officials in Rafah, near the Egyptian border.
International figures welcomed the pause in hostilities and the release of captives, seeing it as a glimmer of hope in a conflict triggered by deadly Hamas attacks, prompting an Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Despite accusations of violations from both Israel and Hamas on November 28, Qatari officials, who are mediating in the conflict, asserted that these incidents did not derail the truce.
As the two-day extension to the truce held, US and Israeli intelligence chiefs convened in Doha, the capital of Qatar, to discuss the “next phase” of the deal, according to a source briefed on their visit.
The international community is exerting pressure on Israel and Hamas to prevent a return to full-scale fighting after the truce’s expiry on November 30.
A source close to Hamas disclosed to AFP that the release of 10 Israeli hostages on November 28 was in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, in addition to the previous release of two foreign hostages.
The truce temporarily halted the conflict that erupted on October 7 when Hamas militants crossed into Israel, resulting in 1,200 casualties, mostly civilians, and the abduction of around 240 individuals.
Israel’s retaliatory ground and air operations in the Gaza Strip claimed the lives of nearly 15,000 people, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas government in the territory.
Palestinian movements decried alleged “truce violations by the occupier,” with reports of Israeli tank fire in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood as Palestinians attempted to return to their homes.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari acknowledged “some minimal breaches” but insisted they did not undermine the essence of the agreement.
The release of the hostages brings a ray of optimism, with Israel reiterating its commitment to the goal of dismantling Hamas and rescuing all remaining hostages.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video statement, affirmed their determination to complete missions, including freeing hostages and eliminating the perceived terrorist threat.
As discussions in Doha aim to build on the progress of the truce, concerns about a more enduring ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid for Gaza persist, given the displacement of an estimated 1.7 million people, according to the United Nations.
US President Joe Biden has cautioned Israel against causing mass displacement in southern Gaza, and the World Food Programme highlighted the delivery of food to over 121,000 people in Gaza since November 24, emphasizing the looming risk of famine.
WFP’s director for the Middle East, Corinne Fleischer, described the situation as catastrophic, underlining the urgent need for sustained international aid.
