KATHMANDU: In a significant development, the truce between Israel and Hamas has been extended, leading to the release of more individuals from Israeli prisons. According to reports from various news agencies, the releases include 30 children and three women, as confirmed by Hamas-affiliated media cited by Reuters.
Contrary to this, the AFP news agency, quoting the Israeli prison authority, mentions that a total of 33 prisoners have been set free, without specifying the exact number of children and women among them.
Earlier statements from both Hamas and Qatar had indicated that 33 Palestinians, comprising 30 children and three women, were scheduled to be released as part of the ongoing truce agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The extension of the truce comes at a critical juncture, just hours before the four-day ceasefire was set to expire. Reports confirm that 11 Israeli hostages, including three-year-old twins, were freed by Hamas, bringing the total number of released hostages to over 50.
In reciprocity, Israel released 33 Palestinians from its prisons, with reports suggesting the majority of them were children and women.
Qatar announced the agreement to a two-day extension of the truce, providing a window for further negotiations. During this period, Hamas has committed to releasing an additional 20 women and children, as revealed by US national security spokesman John Kirby.
Meanwhile, humanitarian aid continues to reach the Gaza Strip, with additional lorry-loads of supplies, including food, fuel, and medicines, entering on Monday. Aid organizations are actively involved in distributing these essential resources to the affected population.
The recent escalation in hostilities initiated by Hamas on October 7th resulted in tragic consequences, with 1,200 people reported killed and approximately 240 taken hostage. Since then, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry has reported a staggering toll, stating that over 14,500 people have lost their lives in Israel’s retaliatory campaign.
(With inputs from BBC)
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