GAZA/JERUSALEM: The Palestinian Islamic Jihad motion mentioned on Wednesday (Nov 29) it had handed over a number of civilian hostages as a part of an change cope with Israel, on the ultimate day of a two-day extension of a truce within the Gaza conflict.
The discharge was overshadowed by an unconfirmed declare by Hamas, the most important militant group in Gaza, {that a} household of Israeli hostages, together with the youngest hostage, child Kfir Bibas, had been killed throughout earlier Israeli bombardment.
Israeli officers mentioned they had been checking the Hamas report in regards to the Bibas household, a really delicate difficulty in Israel the place the household is among the many most high-profile hostages but to be freed.
Family of the Bibas household mentioned that they had been knowledgeable of the Hamas report. “We’re ready for the data to be confirmed and hopefully refuted by navy officers,” a press release from the Hostages and Lacking Individuals Households Discussion board mentioned.
Hamas issued its declare in regards to the three deaths forward of the anticipated closing launch of a number of of its personal hostages scheduled beneath the truce. The group had been anticipated to free no less than 10 hostages on Wednesday beneath the phrases of the truce settlement.
The hostage launch by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an ally of Hamas, coincided with talks over a potential extension of the truce between Israel and Hamas, which at present is scheduled to run out early on Thursday.
An Israeli official mentioned it might be not possible to increase the ceasefire with out a dedication to launch all ladies and youngsters among the many hostages. The official mentioned Israel believed that militants had been nonetheless holding sufficient ladies and youngsters to delay the truce by 2-3 days.
Egyptian safety sources additionally mentioned negotiators believed a two-day extension was potential. A Palestinian official mentioned negotiators had been hammering out whether or not Israeli males could be launched on completely different phrases than the change for 3 Palestinian detainees every that had beforehand utilized to the ladies and youngsters.
