Status: 29.11.2023, 18:32 PM
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The remains of a vehicle lie in front of the destroyed Indonesian hospital in Beit Lahia. © Mohammed Alaswad/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
The U.S. wants to "do everything in its power" to extend the ceasefire in the Gaza war. Hamas also seems interested in a sequel. The overview.
Gaza/Tel Aviv - Shortly before the end of the ceasefire in the Gaza war, intensive negotiations on an extension took place on Wednesday. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged to "do everything in our power to extend the pause." The Islamist Hamas said it was working a possible extension, a spokesman told Al Jazeera. On Wednesday evening, another 10 Israeli hostages were to be released by Hamas in exchange for the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
However, it was not yet clear in the early evening whether the talks on an extension of the ceasefire would be crowned with success. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a statement that fighting would resume when "this phase of the return of our hostages is completed." He also reiterated his commitment to the war goal of destroying Hamas.
A ceasefire has been in effect since last Friday, during which hostages taken to the Gaza Strip and Palestinian prisoners from Israel have been exchanged. The pause in fighting was recently extended by two days. This would mean that it would probably expire on Thursday morning without another extension. In the West Bank, meanwhile, several Palestinians were killed as part of an Israeli anti-terror operation.
Blinken: Continuation of the ceasefire also in the interest of the Israelis
"We will focus over the next few days on doing everything in our power to extend the pause so that we can continue to free more hostages and provide more humanitarian assistance," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday after a NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels. At the same time, they will discuss with Israel how the country can achieve the goal of ensuring that terrorist attacks like the one on October 7 are never repeated.
Blinken also expressed his conviction that the continuation of the ceasefire was also in the interest of the Israelis. "They are also very focused on bringing their people home," the American said, referring to the Israeli hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip.
According to his own statements, Blinken will be back in Israel this Thursday and hold talks with the government there. It is his third visit since the beginning of the conflict.
Hamas: Ready to Release More Hostages
"We are working very hard" with the mediators Qatar and Egypt to reach a "compromise" and extend the ceasefire, Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad told Al Jazeera on Wednesday. The situation is complicated and constantly changing, but he is optimistic about a possible extension. "We are ready to free more hostages for an extension of the ceasefire" for more days.
According to the original agreement between the warring parties, the ceasefire could be extended to a maximum of up to ten days in order to allow for the further release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners. So far, 81 hostages have been released during the ceasefire. Israel has so far released 180 Palestinians from its prisons.
Steinmeier calls on Qatar to continue mediating for the release of hostages
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier asked the Qatari leadership for further efforts to free the German hostages from Hamas. "After this talks, I am sure that Qatar will do everything in its power to contribute to the release of the German hostages," Steinmeier said in Qatar on Wednesday after a meeting with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The emirate is one of the main mediators between Israel and Hamas in the conflict.
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The latest Gaza war was triggered by the worst massacre in Israel's history, carried out by Gaza terrorists in Israel near the border on October 7. More than 1200 people were killed. About 240 hostages were taken to Gaza, including several Germans. Israel responded with massive air strikes and a blockade of the Gaza Strip. At the end of October, his forces launched a ground offensive. According to Hamas, nearly 15,000 people were killed and more than 36,000 injured. The figures cannot be independently verified.
Hamas: Two Russian hostages handed over to the Red Cross
Hamas said it handed over two Russian hostages to the Red Cross. The two abductees were released as a result of Russian President Vladimir Putin's efforts, Hamas said on Wednesday. They were to be handed over by the Red Cross to representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry. The release of the two women is not part of the agreement on the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
After Hamas' attack on Israel, Russia has criticized the United States in particular and declared its attempt to resolve the Middle East conflict to be a failure. The Kremlin offered itself as a mediator, which on the one hand has traditionally good relations with the Arab world, but also has a proximity to Tel Aviv due to the large number of Israelis with a Russian past.
Israel: Senior Islamic Jihad Commander Killed
While the guns fell silent in Gaza, Israel carried out an anti-terror operation in the West Bank, according to its own statements, in which an Islamic Jihad commander was killed. Soldiers shelled a building in the city of Jenin in the northern West Bank on Wednesday where Mohammed Subeidi and other extremists were staying, the military said.
In total, the army detained 17 wanted Palestinians. Numerous weapons, explosive devices, ammunition and military equipment were found. During the arrests, there were confrontations and exchanges of gunfire. Explosive devices were thrown at the troops, who responded with live ammunition.
Also in Jenin, two boys, aged eight and 15, were killed by the Israeli military on Wednesday, according to Palestinian sources. An Israeli army spokesman said the reports were being investigated. Whether it was the same operation remained unclear at first. Dpa