by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Mohammed Salem and Maayan Lubell
GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel received on Wednesday a new list of hostages to be released during the day by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, on the theoretical last day of the truce in the Gaza Strip, although intense Diplomatic efforts are continuing to extend it.
The families of Israeli hostages due to be released on Wednesday have been informed of the return of their loved ones, Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported, a relief for the families concerned as there are only hours left to negotiate an extension of the truce in force for six days.
Israel has said it is prepared not to resume its military operations if Hamas continues to release at least 10 hostages per day. But with fewer women and children still being held by the Palestinian group, it may be necessary to negotiate, for the first time, the release of at least some men.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad released 12 additional hostages on Tuesday, ten Israeli citizens and two Thai nationals. This brings to 81 the number of hostages released, including 60 Israeli or binational women and children, among the approximately 240 people kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 attack, which left 1,200 dead according to Israel.
In response to the Hamas attack, Israel carried out a bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip, where it then launched a ground offensive. More than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed since then, according to local authorities, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced.
DISCUSSIONS IN QATAR
Israel for its part released on Tuesday evening 30 Palestinian detainees from the Israeli prison of Ofer, in the occupied West Bank, and from a detention center in Jerusalem. This brings the total number of Palestinian detainees released under the truce to 180.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made no comment on ongoing discussions to try to once again extend the truce, but he said security services added 50 names to the list of Palestinian detainees on Tuesday. likely to be exchanged for hostages.
Qatar hosted Israeli and American intelligence officials on Tuesday. They studied elements that would allow the truce to be extended and also discussed ways to achieve a longer-lasting ceasefire, a source familiar with the matter said.
Furthermore, the G7 foreign ministers called on Tuesday, in a joint declaration, for an extension of the ceasefire and an increase in humanitarian aid delivered to the Palestinian enclave.
The truce offered a first respite to Gaza, after seven weeks of fighting and bombardments which reduced a large part of the Palestinian enclave to ruins.
The initial deal between Israel and Hamas for a four-day truce was set to expire Monday night, but both sides agreed to extend it by two days to allow for the release of more large number of people.
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION STILL DRAMATIC IN GAZA
The offensive launched by Israel in response to the October 7 attack has led to the collapse of the health system in the Gaza Strip, particularly in the north, where no hospitals are functioning anymore.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that diseases could soon cause more deaths among Gaza’s population than bombings, saying many residents lack access to medicines, vaccines, drinking water or food.
“The humanitarian situation is dramatic. At the same time, we want the release of all the hostages which, in our opinion, must be unconditional and immediate. But we need a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza now,” he said. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday.
The temporary truce allowed the entry of around 800 trucks carrying aid into the Gaza Strip.
UN Humanitarian Affairs Director Martin Griffiths is due to travel to Amman, Jordan, on Wednesday to discuss opening the Kerem Shalom crossing point into Israel to allow the entry of aid humanitarian in the Gaza Strip.
Located at the intersection of Israel, the Gaza Strip and Egypt, the Kerem Shalom crossing point allowed the entry of more than 60% of aid intended for Gaza before the start of the conflict.
Aid destined for Gaza currently passes through the Rafah border crossing, located on the border with Egypt, designed for the passage of pedestrians.
(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Mohammed Salem and Roleen Tafakji in Gaza, Maayan Lubell, Henriette Chacar and Dan Williams in Jerusalem, Ali Sawafta in Ramallah, Steve Holland and Reuters editors, Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Peter Graff; French version Camille Raynaud and Tangi Salaün, edited by Nicolas Delame)
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