Israel and Hamas have apparently reached an agreement: the ceasefire should be extended by two days, Qatar and the USA confirmed, among others. Part of the agreement is the release of 20 hostages and 60 Palestinian prisoners.
A few hours before the end of the ceasefire, which was initially scheduled to last four days, Israel and the militant Islamist Hamas apparently agreed on an extension. The ceasefire that has been in effect since Friday morning will be extended by two days, said Majid al-Ansari, spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry. This should last until Thursday morning. A White House official also confirmed the extension, but without providing further details.
Hamas also spoke of an extension. According to the terrorist organization, the conditions already agreed upon should apply for the two remaining days. Israeli media are also reporting on the agreement, but official confirmation from the government is still pending because they want to wait for the hostages to be handed over today, they say.
According to Egypt’s State Information Service, the extended ceasefire will also include the daily release of 10 hostages held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. In addition, the import of medical supplies, food and fuel into the Gaza Strip should continue.
Qatar and Egypt mediated
According to information from the Reuters news agency, Hamas had sought an extension of another four days. Israel, on the other hand, has declared that it would extend the ceasefire daily in return for the release of ten hostages a day. In this case, Israel wanted to release three times as many Palestinian prisoners.
Qatar, which is mediating in the war together with Egypt, had previously expressed optimism about a possible extension. “We now have the formula,” said Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Al-Ansari to the dpa news agency. A second deal like the extension now announced will now be “easier to pull off”. But it is probably still too early to negotiate a long-term ceasefire, said Al-Ansari.
Baerbock: Ceasefire as a bridge to a permanent solution
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the extension was a “glimmer of hope and humanity”. The United Nations hopes to be able to further expand humanitarian aid for the population in the Gaza Strip. The Secretary General also suggested opening more border crossings. This would also make it easier for Israel to control deliveries. Currently only one border crossing with Egypt is open.
“The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is getting worse every day,” said Guterres. He called for a “complete humanitarian ceasefire.” In addition, all remaining hostages would also have to be released. Saudi Arabia and Jordan also called for a ceasefire.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that the current ceasefire should be used as a bridge to a political process for a lasting solution to the conflict.
In Washington, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby welcomed the extension of the ceasefire. The US government is hoping for a further extension. But this depends on whether Hamas releases more hostages, said Kirby.
Apparently disagreements via name list
Israel and Hamas agreed to a four-day ceasefire on November 22nd. Part of this first deal is an exchange of up to 100 hostages for up to 300 Palestinian prisoners.
According to Egyptian information, eleven hostages are expected to be released today. Until recently, according to information from ARD correspondent Bettina Meier said there were discrepancies about the names on the list. There are said to have been older women and children among the eleven hostages. However, the mothers of some of the children were missing. This violates an agreement between Israel and Hamas. Families should therefore not be separated. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the list had continued to be negotiated. The military informed the affected relatives in the afternoon.
In return for the release of the hostages, 33 Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli prisons, according to the Egyptian State Information Service (SIS). So far, 58 hostages and 117 prisoners have been released since the agreement began.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dramatic
An extension of the ceasefire also means relief for the suffering population in the Gaza Strip. Under the agreement, a higher number of trucks carrying aid supplies have already arrived in the Gaza Strip than before the agreement. According to aid organizations, the humanitarian situation remains dramatic.
According to the UN emergency relief office OCHA, the deliveries only cover minimal needs. The food supply continues to be difficult. Many people still lack food and fuel for cooking. The north of the Gaza Strip is particularly affected. Most recently, according to the UN Emergency Relief Office, 1,062 tons of ready-to-eat food arrived at four shelters run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on Sunday. In addition, more tents, blankets, drinking water and medical supplies were delivered, it said in a statement.
UN Security Council addresses situation in Gaza
So far, 1.7 million people have been displaced within the coastal area. Israel’s army has announced that it will continue its attacks for at least two more months after the ceasefire. The soldiers should prepare for the coming battles.
Given the precarious situation, the UN Security Council wants to address the Gaza war at least twice more this week. First of all, the committee wants to devote itself to the conflict this evening at Russia’s request, as the United Nations announced. The closed-door meeting was intended to address humanitarian aspects. Another meeting is scheduled for Wednesday and will be chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. China currently holds the monthly rotating presidency of the Security Council. The UN Secretary General and the UN coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, also want to speak at the meeting on Wednesday.
Around two weeks ago, the most powerful UN body passed a resolution for the first time on the war that has been going on for more than seven weeks.
With information from Bettina Meier, ARD Studio Tel Aviv.