Hamas, Qatar confirm Gaza truce extended for one day
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The Qatari Foreign Ministry confirms the extension of the truce in the Gaza Strip for an additional day.
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Palestinian child Omar Atshan,17, is hugged by his mother after being released from an Israeli prison in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023 (AP)
Hamas declared, on Thursday, the extension of a truce in the Gaza Strip with "Israel". 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."
It is worth noting that the extension of the ceasefire has also prompted expectations that both the Israeli occupation and the Resistance may consider further short-term renewals. As the duration of the ceasefire grows, external pressure on "Israel" to make it permanent intensifies, while internal pressures urge for its conclusion.
30 new Palestinian women and children liberated from Israeli prisons
This is happening shortly after 30 new Palestinian women and children were liberated on Thursday at dawn as part of the sixth batch of the prisoner exchange deal agreed upon between the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza and the Israeli occupation.
The Palestinians welcomed the freed prisoners, raising flags of Hamas and al-Qassam in the western part of Ramallah, with slogans honoring the Brigades and the Resistance.
The liberated prisoners arrive in the city of #Ramallah.#Palestine pic.twitter.com/1pe3sseJCD
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 30, 2023
On the other hand, the Palestinian Resistance handed over the group of Israeli captives. Al-Qassam Brigades released a video showing the sixth batch of Israeli captives liberated.
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.
