The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could be extended until Sunday morning, but only if Hamas releases all women and children being held hostage in Gaza, Israeli negotiators have said.
The temporary ceasefire, which both sides initially agreed would last four days but was then extended for another two days, expires on Wednesday. A group of ten hostages are expected to be released today.
Israeli authorities estimate that about 100 women and children were among the 240 people abducted by Hamas terrorists when they stormed kibbutzim in southern Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people.
Sixty hostages have so far been released by the group in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons, as Israel and Hamas continue to observe a lull in fighting.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously told US President Joe Biden that he would be willing to extend the ceasefire for an additional day for every 10 hostages released, something negotiators have also insisted on.
17-year-old hostage Mia Leimberg was filmed holding her dog, a Shih Tzu named Bella, as she was taken to be returned to Israel by Hamas fighters.
Former Israeli hostage, 12-year-old Eitan Yahalomi (R), reunites with his mother after being released by Hamas from the Gaza Strip
The fifth group of hostages would include nine women and one child
Hamas fighters escort newly released hostages before handing them over to the Red Cross in Rafah
However, the Israeli military continues to pressure politicians to resume fighting before it loses momentum in its goal of eradicating Hamas, in a war that has razed large parts of Gaza.
While women and children remain the priority, and dozens continue to be held captive by Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups, questions are also being raised about the fate of the captured men.
Hamas is expected to demand a much higher ‘price’ for extraditing civilian men. The times reports, with the current exchange rate being three Palestinian prisoners for every Israeli hostage released.
The push to free women and children comes as fears grow over the safety of a small baby and his family, who the IDF says will not be released by Hamas.
Hamas’ youngest hostage, 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, along with his older brother Ariel and their parents, Yarden and Shiri Bibas.
An IDF spokesman made the grim announcement yesterday that the family has been transferred to Khan Younis, a town in southern Gaza that is expected to come under heavy fire when the ceasefire ends on Thursday.
Ofri, the sister of Kfir’s father Yarden, whose whereabouts are unknown, said: “We are talking to you today because tomorrow is the last day of the current ceasefire.
“They are currently the youngest hostages still in Hamas captivity. We don’t know where they are being held. We are very concerned about the 10 month old baby with formula as main diet.
Ten Israeli hostages, including several elderly women and a mother and daughter, were released on Tuesday
She described not knowing what was happening as “psychological torture”, adding: “It works very well because the last four days have been a big nightmare”, adding: “I hope they don’t treat them as a holding a trophy.”
Nine Israeli women and a teenager were released on Tuesday evening.
Mia Leimberg, 17, was released with her mother and was filmed holding her dog, a Shih Tzu named Bella, as she was taken to be returned to Israel by Hamas fighters.
It comes after a senior diplomatic source in the Knesset told The Times of Israel yesterday about negotiations to extend the ceasefire: “If there is a concrete proposal, the cabinet will consider it, but there has been nothing like that yet.
“If we see that it is a serious proposal, we will investigate it.”
Teenage hostage Mia was flanked by Hamas fighters and held a dog during her release
Noam Sagi (L), 53, pictured with his mother, Ada Sagi (R)
Despite continued efforts, Israel remains committed to crushing Hamas’ military capabilities and ending its 16-year rule over Gaza.
That would likely mean expanding a ground offensive from Gaza’s devastated north to the south, where devastating attacks have already been carried out on residential buildings that Israel says are aimed at Hamas targets.
More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza.