JERUSALEM: Israel is facing increasing pressure to extend the four-day pause in its relentless and brutal bombardments in Gaza, with concerns over potential risks to its efforts against the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.
The truce, mediated by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt, saw the release of a second tranche of 13 Israeli hostages in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday.
The ceasefire, the first breakthrough after seven weeks of relentless Israeli bombardment in Gaza, involves the gradual release of hostages over four days. A built-in extension mechanism allows for prolonging the process as long as at least 10 Israeli captives are released each day.
Domestic Pressure on Israel
While there is domestic pressure within Israel to continue releasing hostages, military officials fear that a longer truce could blunt their efforts against Hamas. International diplomatic pressure also mounts, with the hope for a lasting ceasefire.
Israel has defied international criticism of its Gaza Strip offensive, which has killed more than 15,000 Palestinian people, mostly innocent civilians, and left an unprecedented trail of destruction in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Qatar, a lead mediator in the negotiations, emphasizes the need to “maintain the momentum” for a lasting ceasefire, while US President Joe Biden sees “real chances” for extending the truce. However, Hamas, accusing Israel of breaching terms, delayed the handover of the second group of hostages on Saturday, highlighting the fragility of the situation.
