2023-11-29 15:33:04
An elderly Israeli woman was initially declared dead, but was then released alive. The family of the mother and two children made an emotional appeal to the public on Tuesday, calling for their immediate release. Video footage of the frightened mother and her two red-haired children being kidnapped went around the world after the massacre by Hamas terrorists in the Israeli border area on October 7th.
The Israeli army said military officials informed the family of the news. The army is checking these Hamas statements for their credibility. “The terrorist organization Hamas continues to behave in a cruel and inhumane manner,” it said in a statement. “Hamas is endangering the hostages, including nine children.”
The Israeli army had recently assumed that the three had been handed over by Hamas to another militant group and that they were being held in Khan Yunis in the south of the coastal strip.
Hamas could release hostages again later in the day, and Israel could release Palestinian prisoners in return. Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad told the Al-Jazeera news channel that they were working “very hard” with mediators Qatar and Egypt to reach a “compromise” and extend the ceasefire. The situation is complicated, but he is optimistic about a possible extension.
According to Israeli negotiating circles, Hamas still has enough hostages in its control to extend the ceasefire by two or three days. This emerges from the list of women and children, says the person involved in the negotiations, who did not wish to be named. Egyptian security circles also previously reported that an extension of two days was conceivable. It is still being discussed how many hostages would have to be released in return. This is a condition for refraining from new attacks. So far, 60 women and children have been handed over to Israel.
Hamas and Israel had previously extended the ceasefire, which was initially scheduled to last four days, by two days. This means that it would probably expire on Thursday morning without another extension. According to the parties’ original agreement, the ceasefire could be extended to a maximum of ten days to allow for the further release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
A senior member of the Islamist Hamas announced on Wednesday the release of two female hostages with Russian nationality. Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marsuk told a Gaza radio station that the release was outside the agreement with Israel and as a gesture to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The women are to be released on Wednesday in addition to ten Israeli hostages.
The Israeli hostages are to be released in return for the release of 30 other Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons. Hamas had already released a 25-year-old Israeli-Russian dual citizen without compensation on Sunday. So far, Hamas has released 81 Israelis and foreigners in exchange for 180 Palestinian prisoners. According to Israeli information, more than 150 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip, including a ten-month-old baby.
The hostages were among about 240 people abducted by Hamas militants in their surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7. According to Israeli information, around 1,200 people were killed. According to an insider, there is now talk of not only releasing women and children among the hostages as before, but also men and members of the Israeli military.
According to its Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the USA is trying to further extend the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. This would mean more hostages could come home, Blinken told the press in Brussels after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers. In addition, more aid for the civilian population would reach the Gaza Strip. “This is clearly something we want. I think that’s something that Israel wants too.” He will work with the Israeli side during his trip to Israel in the coming days to push for an extension of the ceasefire.
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