© Reuters. Individuals react after the discharge of Palestinian prisoners amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Ramallah within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution, November 28, 2023. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
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By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Mohammed Salem and Emily Rose
GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -The handover of extra Israeli hostages by Hamas is beneath means in Gaza, a Palestinian official acquainted with the truce efforts instructed Reuters on Wednesday, the ultimate day of a two-day extension of a truce within the Gaza struggle.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad motion, an ally of Hamas, mentioned earlier it had handed over a number of civilian hostages as a part of an trade deal that additionally includes the discharge of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Gaza’s Hamas rulers have been anticipated to free at the least 10 hostages on Wednesday beneath the phrases of the truce settlement.
The reported handover was overshadowed by an unconfirmed declare by Hamas, the most important militant group in Gaza, {that a} household of Israeli hostages, together with the youngest hostage, child Kfir Bibas, had been killed throughout earlier Israeli bombardment.
Israeli officers mentioned they have been checking the Hamas report in regards to the Bibas household, a really delicate situation in Israel the place the household is among the many most high-profile hostages but to be freed.
Kin of the Bibas household mentioned they’d been knowledgeable of the Hamas report. “We are waiting for the information to be confirmed and hopefully refuted by military officials,” an announcement from the Hostages and Lacking Individuals Households Discussion board mentioned.
The Israeli army mentioned that in keeping with data offered by the Worldwide Committee of the Purple Cross, two extra Israeli hostages have been being transferred to them and have been on their technique to Israeli territory.
“Their release is in addition to the list of hostages that are scheduled to be released today,” a army assertion mentioned.
The hostages are amongst some 240 folks seized by Hamas gunmen throughout a rampage into southern Israel on Oct. 7 by which they killed 1,200 folks. Israel’s bombardment of Gaza in retaliation has killed greater than 15,000 Gazans, in keeping with well being authorities within the Palestinian enclave.
Two Palestinian officers in the meantime instructed Reuters that talks have been persevering with over a attainable extension of the truce, which at present is scheduled to run out early on Thursday, however no settlement had but been reached.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, talking in Brussels on Wednesday, mentioned he would work with the Israelis throughout a visit to Israel within the coming days to see if the non permanent ceasefire might be prolonged.
An Israeli official mentioned earlier it could be not possible to increase the ceasefire with no dedication to launch all girls and youngsters among the many hostages. The official mentioned Israel believed that militants have been nonetheless holding sufficient girls and youngsters to delay the truce by 2-3 days.
Egyptian safety sources additionally mentioned negotiators believed a two-day extension was attainable.
A Palestinian official mentioned negotiators have been hammering out whether or not Israeli males can be launched on completely different phrases than the trade for 3 Palestinian detainees every that had beforehand utilized to the ladies and youngsters.
LISTS OF NAMES
Households of Israeli hostages have been knowledgeable on Wednesday of the names of these because of be launched later within the day, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported, the ultimate group to be freed beneath the truce until negotiators achieve extending it.
Gaza’s Hamas rulers revealed an inventory of 15 girls and 15 youngsters to be launched from Israeli jails in return. For the primary time for the reason that truce started it included Palestinian residents of Israel, in addition to residents of occupied territory.
To date Gaza militants have freed 60 Israeli girls and youngsters from amongst 240 hostages, beneath the deal that secured the struggle’s first truce. Twenty-one foreigners, primarily Thai farmworkers, have been additionally freed beneath separate parallel offers. In return, Israel has launched 180 Palestinian safety detainees, all girls and youngsters.
The preliminary four-day truce was prolonged by 48 hours from Tuesday, and Israel says it could be prepared to delay it for so long as Hamas frees 10 hostages a day. However with fewer girls and youngsters held, that might imply agreeing to phrases governing the discharge of at the least some Israeli males for the primary time.
