Israel extends week-long ceasefire to Hamas

Israel has proposed to Hamas a week-long cessation of war in Gaza for the release of 40 hostages, CNN reported.
The hostages, including women, the elderly, and those in urgent need, would be part of the deal presented to Hamas through Qatari mediators, CNN reported, citing Axios.
Michael Herzog, Israeli Ambassador to the United States, acknowledges Israel’s readiness for a pause in fighting to maximise hostage releases but refrains from confirming a finalised deal.
“I think it’s premature to tell whether or not we have a deal because, until now, Hamas refused to do another deal,” Herzog told CNN.”They were hoping for a permanent ceasefire, but I hope that under the pressure of what we’re doing on the ground, plus the pressure from the Qataris, they will agree to do a deal, but it’s premature at this phase,” he said.
Hamas insists on a ceasefire before releasing more hostages.
The ongoing diplomatic efforts occur amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in the besieged strip.
According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, Israeli military actions in Gaza since October 7 have resulted in nearly 20,000 deaths and over 52,000 injuries.
Simultaneously, airstrikes have devastated much of northern Gaza, leading to the displacement of almost 1.9 million people, constituting more than 80 per cent of the enclave’s population, according to the United Nations, CNN reported.
Meanwhile, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder has expressed deep concern about the safety of children and families in Gaza’s hospitals, emphasising that they are not secure amid the recent shelling.
“Over the past 48 hours, the largest remaining fully functioning hospital was shelled twice. That hospital—Al Nasser in Khan Younis—not only shelters large numbers of children who had already been badly injured in attacks on their homes, but hundreds of women and children seeking safety,” Elder said in Geneva on Tuesday after a recent visit to Gaza.