Extension of the ceasefire in Gaza uncertain
The tough negotiations in the Gaza war between Israel and the Islamist Hamas over another extension of the ceasefire continued shortly before the deadline expired.
Early this morning, it was still unclear whether the ceasefire, which has been in place for exactly one week, would be maintained for the time being or whether fighting would break out again. A few hours before the deadline expired, the Israeli prison authorities released another 30 Palestinian prisoners as part of the agreement, according to Palestinian sources, after Hamas had released a further eight Israeli hostages the previous day.
Blinken admonishes Israel
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Israel's leadership in no uncertain terms to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip. Should Israel resume the war and advance against the southern Gaza Strip in order to pursue Hamas, it is "imperative" that Israel adheres to international humanitarian law and the rules of warfare, said Blinken during a new visit to Israel.
After a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he warned that the numerous civilian deaths and displacement on the scale seen in the northern Gaza Strip must not be repeated in the south.
Before resuming major military operations, Israel must present humanitarian plans to protect the civilian population that minimize further casualties, Blinken demanded. The plans should, for example, precisely define the areas in which civilians in the southern and central Gaza Strip are safe. The destruction of vital infrastructure such as hospitals, power stations and water supply facilities must be avoided.
Relief supplies reach northern Gaza
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported that 310 trucks carrying aid had successfully reached the north of the sealed-off coastal strip since the start of the ceasefire. In this way, important goods such as food, baby food and blankets could be provided for thousands of people in need, it said on X (formerly Twitter). On the previous day alone, 56 trucks with relief supplies had reached the city of Gaza and the northern areas of the coastal region. In total, more than 1000 trucks of aid have arrived in the entire area since the start of the ceasefire.
More hostages released
Meanwhile, Hamas initially released two Israeli women from the Gaza Strip, followed by a further six Israelis on Thursday evening. They were to be medically examined before meeting their families in hospitals, according to the military. According to information from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the four women in question were an 18-year-old girl and her 17-year-old brother. The two Arab-Israeli siblings had been kidnapped from a Bedouin town in the south of the country.
Other Palestinians also at large
The 30 Palestinians released by Israel in return were received by their families in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, Palestinian media reported last night. According to the report, eight women and 22 young men under the age of 19 were released. The spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry had previously spoken on Platform X of seven women and 23 young men.
Together with Egypt and the USA, the Emirate of Qatar had brokered the ceasefire and the exchange of civilian hostages for Palestinian prisoners between Israel and Hamas. The ceasefire, originally agreed for four days, was extended by three days. The countries mediating in the conflict, Egypt and Qatar, tried to extend the ceasefire again.
Israel suspects that around 145 hostages are still in Gaza. However, only 15 of them are believed to be women and children. It was therefore questionable how long the previous procedure, in which women and children are released in return for an extension of the ceasefire, could be continued.
Courageous civilian dead after Hamas attack in Jerusalem
Meanwhile, a civilian who bravely attacked the assassins in the terrorist attack in Jerusalem and was accidentally shot at by Israeli soldiers has died. He succumbed to his serious injuries in hospital one day before his 38th birthday, several Israeli media reported on Thursday evening.
The man had seen the assassins shooting at people at a bus stop, had jumped out of the car and shot at the attackers with his own weapon. The soldiers also opened fire on the Palestinians, but also mistook the man for an assassin and shot him, it was said. Hamas later claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack.
What will be important today
It remains to be seen whether the ceasefire will be extended further.
Source: www.dpa.com
