New list of hostages to be released by Hamas today – US consults on extension of truce

The young man is in the hands of the Israeli authorities list of hostages held at Gaza Strip and are expected to be released today, Wednesday (29/11). At the same time the USA have begun consultations aimed at further extending the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

It has not been made clear how many of the hostages will be released during the day, however their families have been informed, according to the digital edition of the Times of Israel, which cited the services of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

They are the sixth group of hostages to be freed after a ceasefire between the Israeli army and the Palestinian Islamist movement took effect on Friday. So far, 81 hostages have been released – 60 within the framework of the agreement between the parties which was concluded with the mediation of Qatar and with the support of Egypt and the US – and in exchange 180 Palestinians who were held in Israeli prisons have been released.

The US says it is “working” to extend the truce even further

The US government announced yesterday, Tuesday (28/11) that it is making an effort to truce between Israel’s army and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which took effect on Friday and was extended for 48 hours, to last longer.

The suspension of operations, which was initially planned to last 4 days, is not clear whether it will be possible to extend it further, however, Washington acknowledged.

“You know we’re in favor and we’ll continue to work on it,” the spokesman for the US presidency’s National Security Council told reporters yesterday.

“We want to see all the hostages freed,” John Kirby said. “One way to do that is these pauses, you need to pause to get the hostages out (…) these go together”.

“We hope that we will be able to continue working with Israel, Qatar and Egypt to see if we can extend the truce further,” he added, as reported by the Athens News Agency, citing dpa.

After its extension, the armistice expires tomorrow at 07:00 (local and Greek time).

Mr. Kerby also expressed the hope that other hostages who are US citizens will be released.

So far, a 4-year-old girl, who according to the American government lost her parents, killed in front of her eyes, has been released, while before the agreement two women with American citizenship had been released by Hamas.

Washington believes it has two American women among the hostages held by Hamas. Another 7 Americans are missing, but it is unclear if they are hostages.

“We have no indication that Hamas is trying to play a game with the Americans,” the National Security Council spokesman said.

“I think it’s important to remember a couple of things. First, the number of Americans is small. And the number of Americans who could be released,” meaning “women and children,” is “even smaller,” Mr. Kerby explained.

Until yesterday, 81 Hamas hostages were released, among them 61 Israeli citizens, and in exchange 180 Palestinians who were held in Israeli prisons were released.

Source: News Beast

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