Truce extended, new hostage list sent – DW – 11/30/2023

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that the truce deal between Israel and militant group Hamas is “producing results” and should continue.

“We have seen over the last week the very positive development of hostages coming home, being reunited with their families,” Blinken said in Tel Aviv at a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

“It’s also enabled an increase in humanitarian assistance to go to innocent civilians in Gaza who need it desperately. So this process is producing results. It’s important, and we hope that it can continue.”

Blinken is currently visiting Israel for the third time since war began following the Hamas terror attacks on October 7.

He is also expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas. 

At least three people were killed and six others injured in a shooting in Jerusalem, Israel’s Magen David Adom ambulance service said on Thursday.

Two suspects were also killed by police after the attack.

“Two terrorists who arrived at the scene in a vehicle armed with weapons fired at civilians at a bus stop, and they were neutralized by security forces and a civilian who were nearby,” Israeli police said, without specifying who was responsible for the shooting. 

The US ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, condemned the shooting.

“Abhorrent terrorist attack in Jerusalem this morning. We unequivocally condemn such brutal violence,” he said.

Israel has received list of names of hostages that are set to be released under the extended truce with Islamist militant group Hamas. 

“A short time ago, Israel was given a list of women and children in accordance with the terms of the agreement, and therefore the truce will continue,” the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.

The statement did not specify a time frame for release. 

Israel and militant Islamist group Hamas have agreed to extend a temporary truce by another day minutes before it was set to expire, Israel and mediator Qatar have confirmed.

“The operational pause will continue in light of the mediators’ efforts to continue the process of releasing the hostages and subject to the terms of the framework,” the Israeli military said on social media.

Qatar and Israel said the truce would continue under the existing framework where Hamas, considered a terror group by several countries, released 10 Israeli hostages per day in exchange for Israel releasing 30 Palestinian prisoners.

“Palestinian and Israeli sides have reached an agreement to extend the humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip for an additional day under the existing conditions, which are a cessation of all military activities and the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza,” Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said.

The truce was set to expire Thursday morning.

Negotiations on extending it came down to the wire, reportedly with last-minute disagreements over the hostages to be freed by Hamas in exchange for another day of a halt in fighting.

Israel-Hamas truce brings Gaza children rare moments of joy

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China on Thursday called for a “sustained humanitarian truce” in the Israel-Hamas war.

“Parties to the conflict should… immediately realize a durable and sustained humanitarian truce,” China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a paper stating the country’s position.

The position paper highlighted the need for civilians to be protected. “It is imperative to stop any violent attacks against civilians and violations of international humanitarian law, and avoid attacks on civilian facilities,” the paper stated.

China called for humanitarian corridors in Gaza to allow a “rapid, safe, unhindered and sustainable humanitarian access.”

The ministry also called for the UN Security Council to formulate “a concrete timetable and roadmap for the implementation of the two-state solution and facilitate a comprehensive, just and lasting solution” to the issues in the region.

The temporary truce between Israel and Hamas is set to expire at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) on Thursday morning.

The six-day pause in fighting has allowed the release of 97 hostages taken during Hamas’ terror attack on southern Israel on October 7.

In return, Israeli authorities have released 210 Palestinian prisoners. Much-needed aid has also been allowed to enter the Palestinian territory that had up until Friday, been under bombardment by Israel’s military.

The militant Islamist group is still thought to be holding over 140 hostages.

Israel has said it would continue with its efforts to root out the militant group once the truce ended.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Thursday to meet with Israeli leaders.

Ahead of the visit, Blinken said the trip was aimed at prolonging the pause in fighting, which is due to expire.

Blinken will also be discussing Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international humanitarian law and also the acceleration of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.

The Secretary of State is set to visit the occupied West Bank before traveling to Dubai to attend the UN Climate Conference.

This is Blinken’s third visit to the Middle East since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, sparked by the October 7 terror attack carried out by the Islamist militant group.

On Wednesday, the Islamist militant group Hamas handed over 16 hostages while Israel released another 30 Palestinian prisoners, in the sixth exchange under a temporary truce deal.

Since the pause in fighting began last Friday, Hamas has released 97 hostages, mostly Israeli nationals, while Israel has freed 210 Palestinian prisoners.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel to push for further extensions of the truce.

Qatar has been trying in its capacity as mediator to secure another extension to the truce that began last Friday.

Fighting began following the October 7 attacks by Hamas, which the EU, US, Germany and other countries classify as a terrorist organization.

kb/jsi (AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa)