November 28, 2023 — Israeli forces and Hamas fighters are maintaining the truce for a fifth consecutive morning, with discussions underway for further extensions. The ceasefire, initially set for four days, was extended last minute for at least two more days to facilitate the release of additional hostages.
A calm morning prevailed on Tuesday, marked by a single column of black smoke rising above the war-torn northern Gaza zone. No signs of aerial activity or explosions were reported. In the Sheikh Radwan district of Gaza City, both sides acknowledged some Israeli tank fire, attributed to a warning shot after suspects approached IDF troops. No immediate reports of casualties were received.
During the truce, Hamas released 50 Israeli women and children, including toddlers, among the 240 hostages captured during a violent episode in southern Israel on October 7. In reciprocal action, Israel released 150 security detainees, all women and teenagers. Additionally, Hamas separately released 19 foreign hostages, primarily Thai farmworkers, under parallel agreements.
The possibility of an indefinite extension looms as Israel conditions further truce extensions on Hamas releasing a minimum of 10 hostages daily. However, the decreasing number of women and children in captivity may necessitate negotiations for the release of Israeli men for the first time.
Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya stated, “We hope the Occupation (Israel) abides (by the agreement) in the next two days because we are seeking a new agreement, besides women and children, whereby other categories that we have that we can swap.”
Israeli Security Cabinet Minister Gideon Saar affirmed that the two-day extension adhered to the original offer’s terms, expressing Israel’s willingness to extend the truce further if more hostages were released. He warned that the end of the truce would be marked by a resumption of hostilities.
“The warfighting will be renewed immediately upon the completion of the hostage-recovery framework. We have every intention of implementing the goals of the war as it applies to toppling Hamas in Gaza,” Saar declared.
The truce has provided the first respite to the Gaza Strip in seven weeks, allowing more aid to reach the territory under total Israeli siege. Israel has vowed to dismantle Hamas, the group governing Gaza, following a deadly incursion that resulted in around 1,200 casualties and 240 captives.
As the truce persists, clashes occurred outside Ofer prison in the West Bank, where the final 33 detainees were released. Palestinian protesters, waving flags of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, clashed with Israeli forces, resulting in one Palestinian death. Israel added 50 Palestinian women to its list of detainees cleared for release, signaling potential negotiations for further hostage releases.
The release of male Israeli civilians is anticipated to begin with fathers and husbands captured alongside the recently freed women and children. Relatives express relief at the release of hostages but acknowledge the challenging rehabilitation ahead for those who have endured traumatic experiences.
