Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that he is willing to keep the present ceasefire with Hamas in place, but he has also issued a warning that if it ends, West Jerusalem will continue its onslaught. Concurrently, the armed faction in Palestine has also supported the notion of prolonging the four-day ceasefire.
Netanyahu said he had spoken with US President Joe Biden about the release of hostages held in Gaza, which is a crucial component of the most recent agreement with Hamas, in a video statement that was made public on Sunday.
He mentioned that another set of hostages from the Palestinian enclave had been returned home by Israel. The prime minister declared, “When we see families reunited, I am moved to the depths of my heart—the entire nation is.”
Netanyahu reaffirmed that Israel was prepared to extend the cease-fire with Hamas, which was set to expire on Monday night, provided that Hamas free ten more hostages for each day that it does not.
“At the same time, I also told President Biden that we will go to realising our goals with full force at the end of the outline: eliminating Hamas, making sure that Gaza won’t revert to its previous state, and – of course – releasing all of our hostages,” he continued.
On October 7, Hamas launched an unexpected attack on Israel, taking over 240 captives, many of whom were foreigners. After intense negotiations mediated by Qatar, an agreement was reached last week whereby Hamas agreed to release 50 captives detained in Gaza in exchange for 150 Palestinians, to be released gradually. Additionally, hundreds of vehicles bearing humanitarian supplies were able to enter the beleaguered area because to the truce.
39 Israeli captives and 117 Palestinian detainees have been exchanged so far. Furthermore, as a result of several deals, around twenty-one individuals who had been kidnapped by Palestinian militants were released.
Hamas stated in a statement on Sunday that it was working “through serious efforts to increase the number of those released from imprisonment” in order to prolong the truce. According to an AFP source close to the group, Hamas was open to extending the ceasefire by an additional “two to four days.”
The official stated, “The resistance thinks it is possible to ensure the release of 20 to 40 Israeli prisoners.”
