The truce continues for one more day. Mediators between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group agreed Thursday to extend the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The announcement was made ten minutes before the previous pause expired. The Israeli Army reported on its official X account, formerly Twitter:
The operational pause will be maintained in light of the mediators' efforts to continue the hostage release process and subject to the terms of the framework.
The operational pause will continue in light of the mediators' efforts to continue the process of releasing the hostages and subject to the terms of the framework.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 30, 2023
Qatar - the mediating country in the conflict - offered extra information about the ceasefire and indicated that it had been reached "within the framework of the joint mediation of the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States." They declared that the truce was extended under the same conditions and terms as the previous one. That is, with the release of hostages. Hamas will release 10 Israeli hostages a day in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners imprisoned by Israel.
The spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, Majid al Ansari, revealed in a statement:
The Palestinian and Israeli sides had reached an agreement to extend the humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip for one more day (today Thursday) under the same previous conditions, are a ceasefire and the entry of humanitarian aid.
Blinken assures that the truce is yielding "results".
The Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, assured during his visit to Israel - during a meeting with President Isaac Herzog - that the cease-fire "is producing results" and that the release of hostages should continue today:
'In the last week we saw the very positive news of the return of hostages to their homes, and to their families. It has also allowed an increase in humanitarian assistance to innocent civilians in Gaza, who desperately need it. So this process is yielding results. It is important, and we hope it can continue.
Israel, determined to maintain the offensive
The initial truce was carried out with the aim of achieving the liberation of women and children. The Government of Israel has repeatedly stated that it intends to maintain the ceasefire, as long as Hamas continues to release hostages (according to officials in that country, about 20 women will be released in the coming days).
After this, Israel will resume its offensive aimed at eliminating the terrorists. The duration and extensions of the truce will depend on the upcoming negotiations in which the release of some 126 men (including several dozen soldiers) will be discussed.
A total of 73 Israelis (including dual citizens), 23 Thais and one Filipino were released in the six-day ceasefire.
