Israel, Hamas Accuse Each Other Of Truce Violations Amid Gaza Firing
Israel and Hamas accused each other of breaching the prolonged pause in incidents, while Qatari authorities mediating the dispute maintained this did not derail the truce.
A new group of Israeli captives were set to be released in exchange for Palestinian inmates on Tuesday as mediators attempted to bring the catastrophic seven-week battle to a conclusion, news agency AFP reported. International officials applauded the cessation of hostilities and release of hostages as a sign of optimism in the crisis caused by deadly Hamas assaults, which spurred an Israeli military invasion in Gaza. On Tuesday, Israel and Hamas accused each other of breaching the prolonged pause in incidents, while Qatari authorities mediating the dispute maintained this did not derail the truce.
As a two-day extension of the cease-fire began Tuesday, US and Israeli intelligence officials were in Doha, Qatar's capital, to negotiate the "next phase" of the agreement, according to a source briefed on their visit.
International pressure is mounting on Israel and Hamas not to resume all-out combat when the last truce expires on Thursday, but rather to build on the prisoner swaps to find a solution to the crisis.
According to a source close to the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, ten hostages held in Gaza will be released in exchange for 30 Israeli inmates released on Tuesday.
In addition to their releases, "some foreign workers held in Gaza" would be released, according to a source, AFP reported.
The truce halted combat that began on October 7 when Hamas terrorists crossed into Israel, murdering 1,200 people, largely civilians, and capturing around 240.
According to the Gaza Strip's Hamas administration, Israel's retaliatory ground and air campaign has killed around 15,000 Palestinians, largely civilians.
Palestinian groups condemned "truce violations by the occupier," and an AFP correspondent witnessed an Israeli tank fire three times in Gaza City's Sheikh Radwan district as Palestinians sought to return home.
According to the Israeli military, the bombardment was "warning shots" fired by a tank as suspected terrorists approached IDF lines. According to the AFP correspondent, at least one person was injured.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said that three explosive devices were detonated near its soldiers in northern Gaza, "violating the framework of the operational pause."
"In one of the locations, terrorists also opened fire at the troops, who responded with fire. A number of soldiers were lightly injured during the incidents," the army was quoted by AFP in its report.
Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari told a news conference: "There have been some minimal breaches which have been noted by both parties but they did not harm the essence of the agreement and the agreement is still ongoing."
Buildings in the Gaza Strip have been devastated as a result of Israeli bombardments since October 7, with civilians wandering through the wreckage of wrecked homes.
"I hope this truce will lead to a complete ceasefire, because we are fed up of sleeping outdoors in the rain, of losing our loved ones and having to flee," said Umm Mohammed, who was driven from her home in northern Gaza by the assault.
"One day for sure I will return... and I hope that my house will be waiting for me," she told AFP.
Israel has committed to pursue its military goal of annihilating Hamas and freeing all surviving captives.
"The return of the hostages is a bright light for us all," Israel's army chief Herzi Halevi said in a video released Tuesday by the military.
The release of dozens so far "is also further evidence of the results of significant military pressure and resolute ground operations, which created the conditions for the return of our civilians home", he said.
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