Twelve more Hamas hostages were freed Tuesday as part of an extended ceasefire agreement with Israel, which reportedly promised not to extend the uneasy peace pause beyond Sunday.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that Hamas has freed 10 Israelis (all women between the ages of 17 and 84) and two Thai citizens.
No Americans were released in the latest round, a White House official told CNN.
Israel and Hamas are now discussing plans to extend the deadline by another two days with the same conditions as before, Egyptian sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper.
But the lull in the war took a worrying turn on Tuesday when the Israel Defense Forces said three bombs were detonated near Israeli troops in two locations in Gaza, wounding several soldiers and violating the ceasefire. Then both sides exchanged fire. Hamas said Israel started the skirmishes.
The IDF also said that three Israeli soldiers kidnapped by Hamas are now confirmed dead. The murdered soldiers: Israeli Sgt. Tomer Yaakov Ahimas, 20 years old, sergeant. Kiril Brodski, 19 years old, and Sgt. Shaked Dahan, 19, were kidnapped on October 7 and are believed to have been killed that day.
Israeli soldiers continue to operate in Gaza as the Jewish state reportedly refuses to allow the truce to extend beyond Sunday. via REUTERS Members of the Red Cross wait to receive the hostages released by Hamas. AFP via Getty Images
The Red Cross received the fifth wave of freed hostages Tuesday morning; The group underwent medical examinations and was transferred to Israel.
The 10 Israeli hostages have been identified as Gabriela Leimberg, 59, and her daughter Mia, 17; Ditza Heiman, 84; Tamar Metzger, 78 years old; Nurlene Agojo, 60; Ada Sagi, 75 years old; Merav Tal, 53 years old; Rimón Kirscht, 36 years old; Ofelia Roitman, 77; and Clara Merman, 63 years old.
Israeli hostages in Rafah, Egypt, after being released from Hamas custody on November 28, 2023. Al Qahera News Hamas fighters accompany the newly freed hostages before handing them over to the Red Cross in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, on November 28. 2023. AFP via Getty Images
Mia Leimberg was released carrying her dog Bella in her arms.
The release comes after Qatari officials, who are leading negotiations between Israel and the terrorist group, said a total of 20 hostages would be freed within two days, or on Wednesday, when the ceasefire deadline was extended.
With Tuesday’s release, 79 hostages in Gaza have been freed so far, and Israeli officials estimate that around 160 more remain in captivity.
Eitan Yahalomi, 12, was released from the Gaza Strip on November 27 after being taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel. Via REUTERS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office added that it had sent a list of 50 Palestinian prisoners who could be released in exchange for more hostages and an extension of the truce agreement, NBC News reports.
Tuesday’s hostage release paved the way for the freedom of 30 Palestinian prisoners in Israel, including 15 women and 15 male minors. The total number of prisoners released in exchange for hostages increases to 147.
A Red Cross vehicle carrying recently freed hostages heads towards the Rafah border point. AFP via Getty Images
One of the prisoners expected to be released is journalist Marwat al-Azza, who was charged Monday for statements made on social media, including one that appeared to mock an elderly woman who was kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, the newspaper reported. Israeli media Haaretz.
But despite being open to extending the ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave at least until Wednesday, Israeli officials are reportedly unwilling to extend the truce beyond 10 days, a source familiar with the matter told Haaretz.
This photograph released by the Israeli military shows two hostages released by Hamas, Gal (center) and Tal Almog-Goldstein (left), being transported by helicopter after their release on November 26, 2023. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) )/ AFP via Getty Images
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Israeli officials in talks with Qatari negotiators insisted that the pause will end on Sunday no matter what, and that the war will resume afterward, the source said.
Netanyahu has promised to end the war only when the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, which currently rules Gaza, is destroyed.
Relatives of the Bibas family and their supporters take part in a demonstration calling for the immediate release of Yarden Bibas, Shiri Bibas and their two children, Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 10 months, who are being held hostage in Gaza. Getty Images A woman reacts during a demonstration calling for the immediate release of Yarden Bibas, Shiri Bibas and her two children. fake images
“The release of all captives, the elimination of the terrorist organization Hamas above and below ground and, of course, Gaza will not be what it was and will no longer be able to pose a threat to our country,” the prime minister said on Tuesday. .
IDF officials have described the peace as an opportunity to “strengthen” their forces in northern Gaza to prepare for another all-out attack.
“The IDF is prepared to continue fighting,” Herzi Halevi, the army’s chief of staff, told troops on Tuesday. “We are taking advantage of the pause days as part of the framework to learn, strengthen our readiness and approve future operational plans.”
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