Hamas releases another group of hostages, requests the extension of the ceasefire

The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas - the Palestinian group designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union - has continued, as the radical group on Sunday released 17 more hostages, including 14 Israelis and one American. In exchange, Israel has released 39 Palestinian prisoners.

Among the hostages freed was Abigail Edan, a four-year-old girl with Israeli and American citizenship, whose parents were killed during the October 7 Hamas attacks that sparked the war.

"She has experienced unimaginable things," US President Joe Biden said of the first American hostage to be released under the four-day ceasefire. Biden said his goal was to extend the truce as long as possible.

A total of nine children aged 17 and younger are on the list of hostages expected to be released, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. Among the freed hostages were three other Thai citizens. Separately, Hamas said it released a Russian hostage "in response to the efforts of Russian President Vladimir Putin".

Thailand's Foreign Ministry said that with the latest nationals freed, the number of Thai hostages freed so far was 17. The ministry said another 15 nationals were still being held hostage.

Meanwhile, the released Palestinian prisoners were children and young men between the ages of 15 and 19 who had been charged with disturbing public order, damaging property and several other charges related to physically threatening Israeli officials by throwing of stones and molotov cocktails.

The fourth group of hostages is expected to be released on Monday, November 27. This will be the last day of the ceasefire, where a total of 50 hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released. Most of them are women and children.

International mediators led by the US, Egypt and Qatar are trying to extend the ceasefire that began on Friday.

For the first time, Hamas said it was aiming to extend the deal, aiming to release more hostages. Netanyahu issued a statement saying he had spoken with Biden and reiterated his offer to extend the truce by one more day for every ten hostages released by Hamas. But he said Israel would resume its offensive "with all the strength it has" once the ceasefire ends.

Before the last group of hostages was released, Netanyahu visited the Gaza Strip, where he met with Israeli troops.

"At the end of the day, we will return everyone," he said, referring to the hostages. He added that "we will continue until the end, until victory." Nothing will stop us." It is not clear whether the Israeli leader entered Gaza.

It is the first pause in fighting in the seven-week war, marking the deadliest violence between Israel and the Palestinians in decades.

More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed - two-thirds women and children - according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-led Gaza. This ministry does not differentiate between killed civilians and combatants.

In the first attack by Hamas in the south of Israel, over 1,200 people were killed, most of them civilians. Hamas has also taken nearly 240 hostages.

The pause in the fighting has also made it possible to send aid to the 2.3 million residents of Gaza, who have faced relentless Israeli attacks, which have forced three quarters of the population to move from their homes./ REL