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Israel-Hamas Extended Cease Fire for Two Days: American Intervention and Hostage Releases amid Temporary Truce

10 months ago
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israel hamas ceasefire

Recently, the first positive developments from Gaza in quite some time have surfaced. In accordance with a cease-fire facilitated by the United States, which commenced last Friday and is scheduled to conclude tomorrow, Hamas has discharged dozens out of the over 200 individuals it kidnapped during its assault on Israel on October 7.

Among those released are a significant number of minors. In response, Israel has temporarily halted its bombardment of Gaza, liberated 150 Palestinian prisoners, and permitted additional humanitarian supplies to enter the territory, thereby offering a momentary respite to the weeks-long suffering of millions of civilians in Gaza.

Credibility of USA

The global reputation and credibility of the United States have been significantly undermined due to its ostensibly unwavering support for Israel’s catastrophic military operation in Gaza. However, with the relationships and influence required to secure an extension of the cease-fire and facilitate a process that could ultimately result in a conflict-ending agreement, the United States continues to be the sole nation in this regard.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters the US welcomed the extension. “This humanitarian pause has already brought a halt to the fighting together with a surge of humanitarian assistance. Now, in order to extend the pause Hamas has committed to releasing another 20 women and children over the next two days,” he said.

Additionally, an extended cease-fire would provide Washington with an opportunity to seriously consider employing diplomacy as a means to fairly resolve the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In order to accomplish this, however, the Biden administration must overtly reject the Abraham Accords, which were devised by former U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to establish incremental bilateral normalization agreements between Israel and autocracies dominated by Arabs and Muslims. It is difficult to conceive of anything positive emerging from the last two months of anguish and violence. A commitment by the United States, however, to an ongoing diplomatic process based on international law would represent a quantum leap toward a future of peace and security for both nations.

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Hostage Releases

Hamas agreed to release dozens of Israeli hostages in exchange for over 100 Palestinian prisoners. The temporary cease-fire allowed time for aid trucks to enter Gaza. However, a total of thirty-three Palestinians, consisting of three women and thirty children, were released from Israeli prisons subsequent to the liberation of eleven Israeli hostages from Gaza.

The prisoners were released from Israel’s Ofer prison in the West Bank and a detention center in Jerusalem, according to the Israel Prison Service, raising the total number of Palestinians it has freed since Friday to 150.

However, Israel was reported to be leaning towards a more gradual, day-by-day approach. And it has made it clear that it is preparing to resume the war in Gaza at the end of the process. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “At the end of the outline, we will go to realising our goals with full force: eliminating Hamas, ensuring that Gaza will not go back to being what it was and, of course, releasing all of our hostages.”

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