In a significant development, Hamas has expressed its intention to extend the temporary cease-fire with Israel in Gaza. The announcement follows the recent exchange of captives between the two parties, with hostages seized by Hamas in its October 7 attack on Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded in a video statement, indicating openness to an extension of the cease-fire on the condition that Hamas releases 10 hostages per day.
Previously, Israel had hinted at the possibility of extending the agreement for up to 10 days. In a statement posted on the social media platform Telegram, the Islamist militant group stated its desire to "extend the truce after the end of the four-day period," which commenced on Friday and is set to conclude on Monday.
The Hamas announcement coincided with the release of hostages, including a 4-year-old girl named Abigail Mor Edan, whose parents were victims of the October 7 attack. In return for the hostages, Israel released 39 Palestinians, with one handed over at the Egyptian border and the others delivered near Ofer Prison and the Jerusalem detention center in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Notably, the young girl, Abigail Mor Edan, celebrated her fourth birthday in captivity on Friday. She holds dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship. The release of the hostages, including a South African woman and two individuals from Hungary, was confirmed by a spokesman for Qatar's foreign ministry on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Hamas attributed the release of the unidentified Israeli Russian hostage to the "efforts of Russian President Vladimir Putin and in appreciation of the Russian position in support of the Palestinian cause." President Biden acknowledged Abigail's freedom but did not provide details about her well-being. Speaking from Nantucket, Massachusetts, where he was spending the Thanksgiving holiday, Biden expressed profound empathy, stating, "What she endured is unthinkable." Abigail's great aunt Liz Hirsh Naftali and cousin Noa Naftali extended gratitude to Biden and the Qatari government for their roles in securing the girl's freedom.
Abigail's safe return has brought immense relief and gratitude to her family. "We hoped and prayed today would come. There are no words to express our relief and gratitude that Abigail is safe and coming home," said Abigail's great aunt Liz Hirsh Naftali and cousin Noa Naftali in a heartfelt statement.
This marks the third exchange between Hamas and Israel, with previous releases including 26 Israelis, 14 Thai laborers, and one Filipino. In response, Israel has freed 78 Palestinian prisoners, all of whom are women and minors. Notably, tens of thousands of Thai and Filipino laborers work in Israel, and some were among the casualties of the Oct. 7 attack, where 1,200 people lost their lives, and others became hostages taken by Hamas.
Despite the significant exchange, two women with U.S.-Israeli citizenship are still held captive. President Biden expressed hope for their release, stating that the administration is actively working with Qatar and other negotiators to extend the pause in hostilities, facilitating the freedom of additional hostages.
On the same day as the latest exchange, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Gaza, marking his first known trip to the Palestinian enclave in over a decade. The visit included a video released by Netanyahu's office, showing him wearing protective gear among empty Palestinian homes and standing near an exposed Hamas tunnel revealed during Israeli military operations. In the video, Netanyahu reiterated Israel's commitment to eradicating Hamas, stating, "we are going all the way."
Simultaneously, there are alarming signs of escalating violence in the West Bank, where Israeli forces conducted an operation resulting in five casualties at a refugee camp. Additionally, three individuals were killed elsewhere in the territory, as reported by the Palestinian health ministry. The situation remains tense and complex, with ongoing efforts to navigate the delicate dynamics of the region.
The second exchange of captives on Saturday teetered on the brink of collapse, with Hamas accusing Israel of violating the terms of the temporary truce that briefly halted hostilities in Gaza. Israel denied these allegations. Among those released was 9-year-old Emily Hand, whose father, Thomas Hand, had initially been informed of her death in the attack, only to later discover that her body was not among the victims.
Thomas Hand expressed the difficulty in finding words to describe the emotions after 50 challenging and complicated days in a statement to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. In Gaza, which endured nearly seven weeks of relentless Israeli bombardment before the temporary truce, humanitarian groups rushed aid to civilians during the relatively quiet period.
Israeli military officials issued a warning on Sunday to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, instructing them to stay in the south and avoid traveling within a half-mile of the border with Israel. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported at least eight Palestinian civilians killed by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank over the last 24 hours, as per The Associated Press.
Despite the truce in Gaza, there is no respite in the West Bank, with ongoing Israeli military actions in villages and refugee camps. Aman Naf'a, whose husband is imprisoned by the Israelis, highlighted the anger among Palestinian neighbors due to violence by the Israeli military and settlers. She emphasized the desire for the world to witness the challenges faced by the Palestinian people.
The Israeli military reported that its soldiers engaged in a gun battle in the Jenin refugee camp, resulting in the death of five Palestinians, and arrested a Palestinian suspected of killing an Israeli father and son earlier in the year. Israel Defense Forces Maj. Doron Spielman, speaking on the social media site X, stated that the IDF's actions aimed to limit threats to Israeli civilians following Hamas' deadly attack. The situation remains complex, with tensions persisting both in Gaza and the West Bank.
"We are focused on Gaza, but this has been a multi-front war over the last five weeks," emphasized Spielman. He highlighted the broader challenges by pointing to threats from Hezbollah, an anti-Israel militia backed by Iran, operating in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials have declared their intention to resume a full-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza once the temporary truce concludes.
In an early Sunday statement, United Nations officials expressed hope for the extension of the cease-fire, noting that the longer the pause lasts, the more aid humanitarian agencies can deliver to Gaza. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported dispatching 200 trucks loaded with aid on Saturday, with 187 entering Gaza by 7 p.m. local time. The majority of the aid was directed to areas in the south.
However, amidst these efforts, reports from Basil Abu Nasr, a merchant in the Qalandiya refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, underscored that violence was on the rise, emphasizing that there is no truce in the West Bank. The situation remains complex, with ongoing humanitarian challenges and regional tensions.
NPR's Brian Mann reported from Ramallah in the West Bank, while NPR's Scott Neuman and Daniel Estrin reported from Tel Aviv. NPR's Dana Farrington contributed from Washington, D.C.
As the temporary truce in Gaza hangs in the balance, the multifaceted nature of the conflict becomes increasingly apparent. Major Doron Spielman emphasizes the broader scope of the war over the past five weeks, citing not only the focus on Gaza but also the looming threats from Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials have signaled their intent to resume a comprehensive offensive against Hamas in Gaza once the cease-fire concludes.
Despite hopes for an extension expressed by the United Nations, the situation remains volatile, with violence escalating in the West Bank, as noted by Basil Abu Nasr from the Qalandiya refugee camp. The complexities of the conflict are mirrored in the efforts of humanitarian agencies dispatching aid to Gaza, with the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reporting substantial deliveries, yet challenges persist, particularly with nearly 80% of Gaza's population internally displaced.
As NPR's reporters contribute from various locations, including Ramallah, Tel Aviv, and Washington, D.C., the region grapples with the delicate balance between cease-fire negotiations, humanitarian efforts, and the persistent threat of violence. The evolving dynamics underscore the intricate challenges of navigating peace in a region marred by conflict and underscore the urgency of international diplomacy in fostering a lasting resolution.