30 Palestinians to be liberated under prisoner swap: CDA chief
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The head of the Palestinian commission for Detainees and ex-Detainees Affairs tells Al Mayadeen that dozens of more prisoners are slated for liberation today.
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A woman smiles as she is welcomed after being liberated by the Palestinian Resistance, in the occupied West Bank town of Ramallah, November 30, 2023 (AP)
The head of the Commission of Detainees and ex-Detainees Affairs in occupied Palestine, Qadura Fares, announced that 30 female and child prisoners would be released on Thursday as per the previous mechanisms.
Speaking to Al Mayadeen, Fares said the prisoners, especially since the start of Operation al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, "are subjected to a brutal Israeli crackdown campaign inside the prisons, including beatings and starvation."
The prisoners feel that they are "heading to a phase where they feel that the security forces might resort to opening fire on them," he added.
Hamas declared on Thursday the extension of a truce in the Gaza Strip with the Israelis. The truce, which was set to expire today at 7:00 am, has been extended for a seventh day as per an agreement, Hamas announced.
Earlier on the same day, Israeli occupation forces confirmed that the truce, which was approaching its end, would persist, "aiming to facilitate ongoing efforts for the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip."
"In light of the mediators' efforts to continue the process of releasing the hostages and subject to the terms of the framework, the operational pause will continue," the IOF said in a post on Telegram.
In a related development, Israeli media reported that "Israel" received a new list of captives Hamas is set to release, adding that the temporary truce would continue for an additional day.
The new list of captives includes 6 Israeli women and 2 children, in addition to 3 bodies, as per Israeli media.
On its account, the Qatari Foreign Ministry confirmed the extension of the truce in the Gaza Strip for an additional day.
"[Qatari] Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Mohammed Al-Ansari announced that the Israeli and Palestinian sides had reached an agreement to extend the humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip for another day," the Ministry posted on X.
It said the truce would continue "within the framework of the joint mediation of the State of Qatar with the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America."
Gaza truce extension ups pressure against 'Israel': NYT
As the duration of the ceasefire grows, external pressure on "Israel" to make it permanent intensifies, while internal pressures urge for its conclusion.
Although "Israel" violated the truce agreement, neither party signaled an intent to withdraw from it.
However, a truce does not mean a complete cessation of hostilities, at least not for the Israeli occupation forces.
Analysts suggest that domestic pressures may prompt Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resume the genocide sooner rather than later. A delayed resumption could lead to tensions with far-right government ministers who supported the ceasefire with the understanding that the invasion would resume shortly.
As the uncertainty looms, the delicate balance between short-term gains and long-term strategic considerations remains at the forefront of the war.
