Both parties express a desire for further releases of hostages, with Hamas holding hostages in exchange for Palestinians incarcerated in Israeli jails. The current ceasefire is set to expire on Tuesday at 7 am, raising concerns about a potential return to the intense fighting and bombardment that has inflicted significant damage on Gaza, resulting in numerous civilian casualties and a humanitarian crisis.
The third release of prisoners, including mostly Israeli hostages held by Hamas, occurred without major issues on Sunday night. However, both Israel and Hamas have raised concerns about the lists of hostages and Palestinian prisoners scheduled for release on Monday. Qatari mediators are working to address these concerns.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while expressing a reluctance to end the ceasefire, has pledged to resume the military offensive in Gaza once the truce concludes. Netanyahu welcomes the possibility of an extension, proposing the release of 10 additional hostages daily in exchange for freedom for 30 Palestinian prisoners, as agreed in the original deal.
U.S. President Joe Biden has committed to remaining personally engaged to ensure the deal’s full implementation and to work towards extending the ceasefire. There is optimism among senior Israeli officials that the truce, resulting from complex indirect negotiations involving the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, will be prolonged.
To date, 62 of the 240 hostages held by Hamas have been released, one by Israeli forces, and two found dead in Gaza. The conflict was triggered by Hamas breaching the perimeter fence around Gaza on October 7, resulting in over 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians. Between 13,000 and 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, with approximately two-thirds being women and children.
Qatar emphasizes the need for Hamas to find additional hostages for a ceasefire extension. Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani suggests that at least 40 women and children are believed to be detained in Gaza by unidentified factions.
While the truce has allowed aid to reach Gaza, agencies warn that more is needed to address the consequences of the conflict. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are seeking shelter in overcrowded facilities, and despite increased humanitarian aid, dire conditions persist.
The UN notes an improvement in aid delivery under the truce, but the quantities remain below pre-conflict levels. Details emerge about the conditions of hostage detention, including shortages of food and medicine, cramped accommodation, and, in some cases, underground confinement. Hostages’ families urge prioritizing releases, adding complexity to Israel’s leaders’ dilemma as they balance the military offensive with the goal of freeing all captives.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
