In the Gaza war, following the release of dozens of hostages from the terrorist organization Hamas, there are signs that the ceasefire, which is limited to Tuesday morning, will be extended. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated on Sunday evening that he is willing to do so. And Hamas says it is also seeking an extension to get more Palestinian prisoners out of Israel in exchange for hostages.
Ten more hostages are expected
The release of ten more hostages is expected next Monday. Meanwhile, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier continues his visit to Israel. After a visit to a kibbutz and a conversation with Netanyahu, he wants to visit a clinic in East Jerusalem that treats Palestinian patients who can no longer return to their relatives.
Qatar’s Head of Government: Destruction of Hamas is hardly possible
The Gulf emirate of Qatar, which is mediating in the Gaza war, considers the destruction of Hamas, which Israel has set as a war goal, hardly feasible. “It will not be possible to destroy Hamas so easily. Whether we agree with her or not, she is part of the society in Gaza and also in the West Bank,” Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” ( Monday). Qatar developed its relationship with Hamas “to maintain calm and stability in the region.” If his country then saw that war was breaking out, these communication channels would be used – as in the past.
Hope for an extension of the ceasefire
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden hopes the ceasefire, initially agreed for four days, will be extended “so we can continue to free more hostages and provide more humanitarian assistance to those in need in Gaza.” To that end, Biden said on Sunday he would continue to work with Qatar, Egypt and Israel. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna made similar comments. It would be “good, useful and necessary” to extend the ceasefire until all hostages are free, Colonna told broadcaster “BFM TV” on Sunday, as other French media reported on Monday evening.
Since Friday, 58 hostages have been released, including eight with dual German nationality. In return, a group of 39 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli prisons on Sunday, as Israeli prison authorities announced in the evening. According to Palestinian reports, there were 39 male youths under the age of 19. A total of 177 Palestinian prisoners have been released since Friday.
The hostage’s life is in danger
A hostage released by Hamas on Sunday is in mortal danger, according to media reports. The 84-year-old woman was taken to a clinic in a life-threatening condition, Israeli media reported, citing the clinic in Beersheba. For the first time, a four-year-old girl, a hostage with American citizenship, was released on Sunday.
The little girl survived under her father’s body
The fate of the little ones has moved many people since then. On October 7, as Hamas terrorists carried out an unprecedented massacre of Israeli civilians, the girl saw her mother shot, US media reported. When her father placed himself protectively over his daughter, he was also shot. The girl’s 10- and 6-year-old siblings survived because they hid in the closet before being rescued.
Her little sister, initially thought to be dead, crawled out from under her father’s body and ran to a neighbor’s house, the Washington Post quoted a relative of the girl as saying. The terrorists seized the girl there along with the five-member neighboring family and abducted them and many others to the Gaza Strip. Last Friday, the girl in captivity turned four years old. Now she was released.
Hope for the release of more hostages
There is hope that more hostages will now be released. The agreement provides for the possibility of extending the pause in the fighting in exchange for the release of an additional 10 hostages per day, Netanyahu said on Sunday evening after a call with Biden. “That would be welcome.” At the same time, he told Biden that fighting would resume after the ceasefire. After the end of the agreement, Israel will “achieve its war objectives.”
The day before, Federal President Steinmeier had promised Israel Germany’s continued support. “Our solidarity with Israel applies,” he said in Jerusalem at a press conference with Israeli President Herzog. “She is not only considered a victim of terror by Israel. Our solidarity also extends to Israel, which is defending itself and fighting an existential threat.” Steinmeier said this in response to criticism of the Israeli conduct of the war in Gaza, which has already cost thousands of civilian lives. It is necessary to protect civilians in Gaza and provide them with the essential necessities of life, Steinmeier said. “International humanitarian law requires this.”
What will be important on Monday
Another ten hostages are expected to be released from the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, technology billionaire Elon Musk meets with Israeli President Herzog in Jerusalem. At the same time, negotiations continue on the extension of the ceasefire, which is limited to Tuesday morning. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
