Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : In a surprising turn of events, the four-day cease-fire between Hamas and Israel has been extended by two days, according to Qatari officials. This announcement comes after the release of dozens of hostages who were taken captive during Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7th. So far, a total of 58 hostages, including 40 Israelis and 18 foreign citizens, have been released by Hamas in exchange for 117 Palestinians released from Israeli prisons.
The truce extension will allow for the release of more hostages and prisoners. Egyptian-Qatari mediation efforts are ongoing to further extend the cease-fire and facilitate the release of additional captives. Ten Israeli hostages and 30 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be freed on Thursday, according to Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypt’s State Information Service.
However, amidst the hope for peace and the release of hostages, a tragic incident occurred in Jerusalem on Thursday morning. Two heavily armed assailants opened fire on civilians at a bus stop, killing three people and injuring 16 others. The gunmen were killed by two off-duty Israeli soldiers and a civilian who were near the scene. Israeli police identified the suspects as brothers from East Jerusalem and described them as “terrorists”. Hamas later claimed responsibility for the attack, citing Israel’s “unprecedented crimes” as the reason.
Despite this act of violence, efforts to extend the cease-fire continue. The Israel Defense Forces announced that due to the ongoing work of mediators, the cease-fire will continue. Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson also confirmed the extension, stating that both sides have agreed to extend the cease-fire by an additional day and allow for the entry of humanitarian aid.
In the midst of these developments, President Joe Biden provided an update on the release of American-Israeli dual national Liat Beinin Atzili. He confirmed that she is safe in Egypt and that he has spoken to her parents. Biden expressed his hope for the release of other Americans who may still be held captive.
As the situation unfolds, the focus remains on securing the release of all hostages and reaching a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The families of the hostages continue to demand increased transparency and pressure for their loved ones’ release. The upcoming meetings with national security adviser Jake Sullivan and the House Foreign Affairs Committee will provide an opportunity to address these concerns and work towards a resolution.