Israel, Hamas reach deal to extend Gaza cease-fire for seventh day despite violence in Jerusalem, West Bank

Israel and Hamas reached an settlement to increase the momentary cease-fire in Gaza for a seventh day, the Qatari authorities introduced early Thursday, not lengthy earlier than the earlier two-day extension was set to run out. Whereas the truce has held in Gaza, pausing the brutal conflict sparked by Hamas’ unprecedented Oct. 7 terror assault on Israel, violence within the different Palestinian territory, the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution, and in Jerusalem was holding stress excessive on Thursday.

Israeli police mentioned three folks have been killed in a capturing assault on a crowded Jerusalem bus cease, which a far-right member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cupboard, Nationwide Safety Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, rapidly blamed on Hamas.

“These are apparently Hamas operatives, who communicate right here with two voices — one voice of a so-called cease-fire and a second voice of terror,” Gavir advised reporters on the scene of the assault, in line with BBC Information. Police mentioned the 2 gunmen have been killed by Israeli troopers on the scene.

Simply hours earlier, Majed Al-Ansari, the spokesperson for Qatar’s international ministry, mentioned in an announcement that the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas would proceed for at the very least another day underneath the identical parameters established final week, which might sees Hamas free one other group of hostages and Israel launch one other group of Palestinian prisoners. A number of hundred extra humanitarian support vans would even be allowed to enter Gaza throughout the prolonged truce. 

In a submit to social media Thursday morning, Israel Protection Forces (IDF) wrote that, given ongoing mediation efforts in the direction of the potential launch of extra Hamas-held hostages, the “operational pause” within the preventing in Gaza would proceed.

In the course of the cease-fire, Israeli intelligence has acquired a listing every single day of the names of the hostages who’re anticipated to be launched by Hamas. In an announcement early Thursday, Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned it was offered a “checklist of girls and youngsters” in accordance with the phrases of the settlement, and subsequently the truce will proceed.”

The short-term cease-fire between the 2 sides started Nov. 24. It was initially slated for 4 days, however was prolonged for one more two. That extension had been set to run out at 7 a.m. native time (midnight Jap) on Thursday earlier than it was prolonged once more for a seventh day.

Frantic talks had been held in Doha Wednesday involving Qatari, Egyptian and U.S. mediators in an effort to attempt to prolong the pause, with each Israel and Hamas indicating they’d be open to a different deal. 

Below the present association, about three Palestinian prisoners are being launched within the West Financial institution for each one hostage freed. The hostages launched up to now have solely been girls and youngsters, however it’s attainable that males may very well be included in a future deal.

Stress within the West Financial institution, the place the freed prisoners have been welcomed by massive crowds cheering their launch and, in some instances, waving Hamas flags, has risen this week, in the meantime. Two Palestinian boys, eight and 15 years previous, have been killed by IDF forces throughout a raid on West Financial institution city of Jenin on Wednesday, Palestinian well being officers mentioned. Safety video confirmed a small group of boys working, and one falling to the bottom, bleeding.

The IDF mentioned troops had opened hearth on folks throwing explosives at them, but it surely didn’t point out the kids particularly, who weren’t seen throwing something within the surveillance video. The navy mentioned troops killed two Islamic Jihad militants throughout the raid in Jenin.

The momentary cease-fire within the densely-packed Palestinian enclave has enabled the discharge of dozens of hostages, been extensively lauded by the worldwide group, and there was no indication that it might be derailed by the continued clashes and violence outdoors Gaza.    

Sixteen hostages, together with an American lady, have been freed by Hamas Wednesday, bringing the entire variety of Hamas-held hostages launched because the cease-fire started to about 100. Some 210 Palestinians have been launched from Israeli prisons in return, together with 30 Palestinians on Wednesday, Qatar mentioned.  

Netanyahu mentioned on Wednesday that after all of the hostages are returned by Hamas, Israel’s operations in Gaza would resume.

“In latest days, I’ve heard a query: After finishing this stage of the return of our hostages, will Israel return to the preventing? My reply is an unequivocal sure,” Netanyahu mentioned in an announcement. “There is no such thing as a scenario through which we don’t return to preventing till the top.”

Greater than 1,200 folks, most of them civilians, have been killed by Hamas militants throughout their Oct. 7 invasion of southern Israel, in line with the Israeli navy. 

The Hamas-run Gaza Well being Ministry says virtually 15,000 folks have been killed in Gaza by Israel’s retaliatory floor incursion and airstrikes   

— Haley Ott and Margaret Brennan contributed to this report. 

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