Hamas said on Sunday it was seeking to extend the temporary ceasefire with Israel, which began on Friday and lasts four days, and may be extended if the Islamist group agrees to release more Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who visited the Palestinian territory for the first time since the start of the conflict, said Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip against the Palestinian Hamas movement would continue "until victory."
"We continued until the end, until the victory. Nothing will stop us," Netanyahu told Israeli military personnel, according to a video released by his cabinet.
"We have three objectives in this war: to eliminate Hamas, to bring back all our hostages, and to ensure that Gaza does not again become a threat to Israel," he said.
"The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas is attempting to extend the truce after the end of the four-day period, seriously attempting to increase the number of released detainees, as set out in the humanitarian truce agreement," the Islamist group announced on Telegram.
Israeli flags in front of the Schneider Children's Medical Center await the arrival of freed hostages in Tel Aviv. Photo: EFE
Hamas' announcement comes on the third day of a ceasefire and exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
On Sunday, the Islamist group released 14 Israeli hostages and three Thai hostages, who have already been transferred to Israeli territory.
For its part, the Israeli prison service announced, for the third consecutive day, the release of 39 Palestinian security prisoners, all of them minors, including a resident of the Gaza Strip.
Positive
The deal, which also includes the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, provides for the release of 50 Israeli hostages in total in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, and could be extended if Hamas agrees to hand over at least <> captives per day.
An Egyptian security source told EFE today that both Hamas and Israel have given "a positive response" to a proposal by Egypt and Qatar to extend the truce in the Gaza Strip, and that it would involve extending it for another four days under "the same conditions."
The senior source, who requested anonymity, said the proposal "is close to final approval" and calls for the truce to be extended by four days, during which Hamas would release another 40 Israeli hostages and Israel would release "more Palestinian prisoners."
The extension of the ceasefire would also be implemented to facilitate the entry of more humanitarian aid and fuel throughout the Gaza Strip, according to the source, who indicated that "all parties confirm their desire to extend the truce."
Source: EFE and AFP
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