Israel Gives Hamas 'Option' For Truce Extension, Seeks Release Of 50 More Hostages

Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy told reporters, "We want to receive another additional 50 hostages beyond tonight on our way to bringing everyone home."

People cheer as a vehicle carrying hostages released by Hamas drives towards an army base in Ofakim, southern Israel.

Source : Getty

New Delhi: The Israeli government said on Monday that it was open to considering an extension of the ongoing pause in fighting to facilitate the release of more hostages.

The government said it had put Hamas "on notice" that an "option for an extension" of the truce in the Gaza Strip was open, reported AFP.

Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy told reporters, "We want to receive another additional 50 hostages beyond tonight on our way to bringing everyone home."

According to AFP, the terms of the truce agreement say it can be extended beyond its initial four-day term as long as 10 hostages are released for each extra day, with three times as many Palestinians freed in return.

A source told AFP that Hamas has signaled its willingness to extend the truce, as the group had informed mediators they were open to prolonging it by "two to four days".

"The resistance believes it is possible to ensure the release of 20 to 40 Israeli prisoners" in that time, the source close to the movement told AFP.

The negotiations are being mediated by Qatar and Egypt.

Meanwhile, Israeli spokesman Levy added that the campaign to "end Hamas... will resume immediately with the end of the hostages release pause".

He added: "It is of course Israeli military pressure that has brought Hamas to bear to agree to release those hostages. We have had it begging for a breather because it has been clobbered over the last months and that pressure will continue until we get everyone home."

On Sunday, Hamas freed 17 people, including a 4-year-old Israeli-American girl, bringing the total number the militant group has released since Friday to 58, including foreigners. Israel freed 39 teenage Palestinian prisoners on Sunday, taking the total number of Palestinians freed under the truce to 117.

An Israeli government spokesperson said on Monday that the total number of hostages still held in Gaza was now 184, including 14 foreigners and 80 Israelis with dual nationality, reported Reuters.