Following a ceasefire, between Israel and Hamas forces, the latest group of hostages has been released as part of the agreement. President Joe Biden of the United States expressed his intention to extend the pause for as long as possible. On the day of the ceasefire, another exchange of hostages is expected, with 50 individuals held captive and 150 Palestinian prisoners set to be freed, primarily consisting of women and minors.
Efforts led by mediators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar are underway to prolong the ceasefire beyond its timeframe. This current break serves as the respite in a 48-day conflict that has caused harm to the Palestinian enclave. However, both sides caution that this does not signify an end to the war.
Regarding casualties, reports indicate that Israel has carried out bombings in Gaza under Hamas control resulting in 14,000 Gazan individuals being harmed, with 40% being children, based on information from Palestinian health authorities. Israeli sources claim that 1,200 people lost their lives during the October attack, and 240 individuals were taken hostage by Hamas fighters.
In relation to figures involved in this conflict, there have been reports stating that Ahmed al Ghandour, who had authority, over Gaza and was a member of Hamas’s top military council, is deceased.
Al Ghandour, the militant who was confirmed to have been killed in the conflict, managed to evade several Israeli assassination attempts and played a role in a cross-border attack back, in 2006 when Palestinian militants captured an Israeli soldier. This information has been reported by the Counter Extremism Project, an advocacy group based in Washington.
The release of hostages as part of the truce continues, and Biden’s commitment to extending the ceasefire underscores ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring a lasting pause to the hostilities in the region.
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