Israel-Hamas truce extended, more hostages released and other updates from the war

The Israel-Hamas truce in the Gaza Strip has continued for a fifth day, with both sides completing the release of Israeli hostages and detained Palestinians as per their original ceasefire agreement. There are indications that more releases may follow.

Before the fifth day of the Israel-Hamas truce, Israel released 150 Palestinian detainees in exchange for the release of 69 hostages by Hamas, as reported by CNN.

Out of the total prisoners released, 98 were held without charge. Among the freed individuals, 119 were children, and the remaining 31 were women.

The plan is to free an additional 10 hostages each day during the extension, as per Reuters.

The truce extension began with the release of the fourth group of hostages on Monday.

Highlights

• Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend their ceasefire for an additional two days, beyond Monday.
• This extension opens the possibility of more exchanges, with Hamas releasing Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel.
• On Monday night, 11 Israeli women and children from kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel, previously held by Hamas for over seven weeks in Gaza, were freed in the fourth swap under the original four-day truce.
• Additionally, 33 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel arrived in east Jerusalem and Ramallah on Tuesday, as per Reuters.
• Hamas still has some hostages who are fathers and husbands of individuals recently freed.

Hamas captured around 240 hostages during an incursion into southern Israel on October 7, resulting in the death of 1,200 people.

Simultaneously, the Israel Prison Service has released a total of 150 Palestinians to date.

In response to the October 7 attack, Israel launched airstrikes and a ground offensive in the north, leading to the death of over 15,000 Palestinians and the displacement of hundreds of thousands.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the death toll in the Israel-Hamas conflict between October 7 and November 23 stands at more than 14,800 Palestinians, including over 6,000 children and 4,000 women, as reported by CNN.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel and the Middle East to discuss aid for Gaza, the future of the region, and the need for an independent Palestinian state.

On Wednesday, November 22, Israel’s Cabinet approved the halt, marking the first pause after 46 days of relentless fighting.