Israel is weighing extending the existing 42-day Gaza truce as it negotiates the release of the remaining 63 hostages, while postponing negotiations about the enclave’s long-term future, Israeli officials said.
The original ceasefire arrangement, negotiated under American support and mediated by Qatar and Egypt, will lapse on Saturday. However, it remains unclear what comes next if no fresh agreement is struck. Israel Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel reported that although there is no official decision, the country has not rejected the prospect of extending the ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages unharmed.
And if there is no agreement by Friday, Israel may reinstate military action, have the status quo without additional hostage releases, or limit humanitarian relief into Gaza. Two of the officials participating in the ceasefire effort said that Israel and Hamas still have not bargained out the details of a second phase, which would necessitate bridging huge differences. Haskel said those discussions would take time and could not be resolved in days.
The truce has seen 29 Israeli hostages, as well as five Thai nationals, released in exchange for scores of Palestinian prisoners. The transfer of the remains of four other hostages has been postponed, though. Relations have strained over Israel’s suspension of releasing more than 600 Palestinian prisoners, charging Hamas with breaching the deal by organizing publicized prisoner and hostage releases.
Hamas official Basem Naim said that breakthroughs are pending the release of the last captives and insisted again on the demand for permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal. Haskel, in the face of hurdles, said there was hope an agreement could be reached to lead to the eventual release of the last four hostages in the days ahead.
