TEL AVIV, Israel—Israel and Hamas agreed to prolong their cease-fire for two more days past Monday, according to the Qatari government, raising the chance of a lengthier pause in their bloodiest and most devastating war, as well as further swaps of militant-held captives for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
The declaration, made by Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majid Al Ansary in a post on X, came on the penultimate day of the warring parties' original four-day truce. A fourth hostage-for-prisoner transfer under that agreement was scheduled later Monday. Qatar, along with the US and Egypt, has played a crucial role in mediating the current confrontation between Israel and Hamas.
Israel has stated that it will prolong the cease-fire by one day for every ten more hostages released. Following the Qatari statement, Hamas announced it had agreed to a two-day extension "under the same terms."
After the Oct. 7 raid into southern Israel, Israel says it is dedicated to eliminating Hamas' military capabilities and ending its 16-year control over Gaza.
If Hamas does not agree to future prisoner releases, Israel will restart its operations with "full force" as soon as the present agreement expires, with the objective of eradicating the group and liberating the remaining detainees, government spokesperson Eylon Levy told reporters on Monday.
58 captives have been released so far during the current cease-fire, including 39 Israelis. Prior to the cease-fire, four hostages were released, another was rescued, and two were discovered dead within Gaza.
After weeks of national grief over the 240 individuals seized by Hamas and other terrorists, images of women and children reconnecting with relatives have galvanized Israelis in support of pleas to return those still held captive.
“We can get all hostages back home. We have to keep pushing,” two relatives of Abigail Edan, a 4-year-old girl and dual Israeli-American citizen who was released Sunday, said in a statement.
Up to 175 hostages might still be held by Hamas and other terrorists, potentially extending the cease-fire for two and a half weeks. However, among those are a number of troops, and the terrorists are expected to make considerably more demanding demands for their release.
On Sunday, Hamas released 17 captives, including 14 Israelis, while Israel released 39 Palestinian inmates, the third such exchange under the cease-fire agreement.
Most captives looked to be in good health, but 84-year-old Elma Avraham was evacuated to Israel's Soroka Medical Center in critical condition due to poor care, according to the hospital.
Tali Amano, Ms. Avraham's daughter, claimed her mother was "hours from death" when she was rushed to the hospital. Ms. Avraham is now drugged and has a breathing tube in place, but Ms. Amano claims she told her about a new great grandchild born while she was in captivity.
Ms. Avraham had multiple chronic diseases that required frequent treatment, but she was stable when she was taken, according to Ms. Amano.
During the truce, 19 individuals of various countries, predominantly Thais, have been released. Many Thais are employed in Israel, primarily as farm laborers.
The majority of Palestinian inmates freed were youths convicted of hurling stones and firebombs at Israeli soldiers or of less serious charges.
According to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, which does not distinguish between civilians and terrorists, more than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, with nearly two-thirds of them being women and youngsters. On the Israeli side, about 1,200 people have been murdered, the majority of them were civilians killed in the initial onslaught. In Israel's ground attack, at least 77 soldiers have been killed.
