The Israeli government negotiates an extension of the truce with Hamas
According to reports, the Islamists want to continue with the ceasefire. A release of a group of hostages is scheduled Wednesday, which includes several Russian nationals.
(Cordon Press)
The parties involved in the conflict between Israel and Palestine are working to ensure that a truce is maintained in the Gaza Strip. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made statements Wednesday in favor of a ceasefire and the release of hostages by the Hamas terrorist group.
During a press conference at NATO's Brussels headquarters, Blinken promised to focus his next visit to the Middle East around this issue. "We’d like to see the pause extended because what it has enabled first and foremost is hostages being released, coming home, being reunited with their families. It’s also enabled us to surge humanitarian assistance into the people of Gaza who so desperately need it," said the secretary of state.
Several media outlets cite Hamas sources who claim that the organization is willing to extend the truce and continue releasing hostages. Also Wednesday, the Islamist organization is scheduled to release a new group of civilians, among whom are two Russian citizens. This was confirmed by an official from the Palestinian group.
This release of hostages would go beyond what was initially planned for the truce that began last Friday for an initial period of four days. In this section, more than 60 hostages of Israeli nationality were released, along with many more Thai and dual nationals. Currently, the ceasefire has been extended for at least 48 hours until Thursday, according to what Qatari officials told AFP.
But Hamas officials would like the truce to last a total of four more days, with their respective exchanges of hostages on the one hand and Palestinian prisoners on the other.
Itamar Ben Gvir threatens to break emergency government agreement
Israeli Interior Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announced that his political party opposes a truce. If the military operation in the Gaza Strip is not resumed, Ben Gvir promised that he would break the government agreement he has with Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud.
Otzma Yehudit, the right-wing party, has six seats in the coalition and three ministers in the 38-member cabinet. Although it is part of the coalition, its departure from the government would not prevent Netanyahu from continuing to govern, if he continues to have the support of Benny Gantz, who joined the government after the massacre on Oct. 7.
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