Hostage Sq., Tel Aviv — The momentary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas within the Gaza Strip continued Tuesday after being prolonged for 2 extra days to permit for the launch of extra hostages by the militant group and extra Palestinian prisoners to be freed by Israel. Israeli officers stated that they had accredited a brand new checklist of Palestinian prisoners to be freed if Hamas makes good on its promise to launch extra hostages, and Israel had a listing of names from Hamas of the hostages it deliberate to free later Tuesday.
Round 170 folks stay captive in Gaza, in response to Israel, however not all are held by Hamas. U.S. officers have stated they’re persevering with to work for additional extensions within the truce, and that they’re going to preserve pushing the negotiations till everyone is launched.
A Hamas official instructed CBS Information on Tuesday that the group — lengthy designated a terrorist group by the U.S., Israel and plenty of different nations — was seeking to negotiate one other extension of the pause in combating throughout which it will launch not simply ladies and youngsters, because it has completed each day since Friday, but in addition male hostages and kidnapped Israeli troopers.
Hamas has launched a complete of 69 hostages over 4 consecutive nights, the latest group being 11 folks handed over Monday evening. Eight of them have been youngsters, the youngest a pair of twins solely three years previous.
Israel has held up its finish of the discount by releasing 150 Palestinian prisoners, a lot of them youngsters and a few jailed for minor offenses like throwing stones.
In Israel, after weeks of dread, dozens of households have been in a position to breathe a sigh of aid. There have been moments of pleasure as households have been reunited, together with for Maayan Zin, who lastly has her daughters Ella and Dafna again in her arms.
For different hostage households, nevertheless, it has been a bittersweet few days.
IDF handout
Hadas Calderon realized Monday evening that her daughter Sahar and son Erez have been being launched, however their father Ofer is believed to stay in captivity.
There may also be extra ache forward for Abigail Mor Edan, a four-year-old twin U.S.-Israeli citizen who was freed, however whose dad and mom have been each among the many roughly 1,200 folks killed by Hamas throughout its Oct. 7 terror rampage throughout southern Israel.
“I am so comfortable that she’s right here,” Abigail’s aunt Ella Mor instructed CBS Information. “She’s like Israel’s little child. Everyone feels her, is her personal child.”
It nonetheless wasn’t clear on Tuesday if the little lady knew her dad and mom have been lifeless.
The household obtained a name from President Biden after Abigail was launched, which Mor described as an “superb” expertise. She stated it felt as if the U.S. chief was “a brand new member of the household… like a grandfather.”
Mor stated her household had been overwhelmed by the outpouring of sympathy from the U.S. and all over the world, which she stated included many presents of adoption for Abigail. She stated that whereas the little lady had misplaced her dad and mom and the household was grateful for the presents, “she has a household,” and that household was busy “surrounding her with love and care and defending her.”
“My coronary heart is somewhat bit higher proper now,” stated Mor, “however there are nonetheless so many individuals — superb folks and youngsters and ladies and men which can be nonetheless there in Gaza — and we’ve to carry them again… It isn’t sufficient to carry solely 13 folks at a time. It isn’t sufficient. Now we have to carry them again, and our hearts shall be healed once more.”
Iris Weinstein Hagai was nonetheless ready for her coronary heart to heal on Tuesday. There’s been no information in any respect about her 70-year-old mom Judy, who’s believed to be one of many American hostages nonetheless in Gaza.
“The hostages that have been launched did not see her. They did not hear about her,” she instructed CBS Information. “I haven’t got any proof of life for my mother. Nothing.”
Hagai stated she had seen video proof suggesting her father Gadi, additionally a U.S. nationwide and regarded as among the many hostages, was truly killed by the militants, who then took his physique.
“I am hopeful we are able to get all of the hostages out,” she stated. “The troopers, the lads that no person talks about, the our bodies – everyone.”