Israeli authorities announced today, Thursday, that two women have returned to Israel after being handed over to the Red Cross in the city of Gaza. It is expected that more hostages will be released later in the evening following a last-minute agreement with Hamas. Israel identified the hostages as Mia Shim (21 years old), who was captured during a dancing event along with many other hostages in Gaza, and Amit Susanna (40 years old). Shim also holds French nationality.
The warring parties agreed to extend the ceasefire for a seventh day, while mediators continue discussions to further extend the truce to free more hostages and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. The ceasefire halted the shelling and allowed some humanitarian assistance to enter Gaza after many parts of the coastal enclave, home to 2.3 million people, were devastated due to the Israeli campaign in response to Hamas's surprise attack on October 7.
Hamas's military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for a shooting that resulted in fatalities in Jerusalem. Israel described the attack as further evidence of the need to eliminate the militants, although there are no signs that the incident will impede the ceasefire in Gaza or obstruct the release of hostages.
Israel, which demanded that Hamas release at least ten hostages daily for the ceasefire to continue, previously stated it received a last-minute list of the names of those to be released today, allowing plans to resume fighting at dawn to be canceled. Hamas, which released 16 hostages in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners yesterday, indicated that the ceasefire will extend for a seventh day.
Mia Shim appeared in a hostage video released by Hamas in October, showing her receiving treatment from an unknown medic due to an arm injury. Her father, David, told Israeli Channel 12 News today that when they meet, he won't say a word to her. He added, "I don't want to ask her any questions because I don't know what she has endured."
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who is in Israel for his third visit to the Middle East since the war began, stated that the ceasefire "is yielding results." In his meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, he noted, "We have witnessed a very positive development over the past week, which is the return of hostages to their homes and their reunion with their families. This must continue today." He also mentioned that the ceasefire has allowed for an increase in humanitarian aid reaching innocent civilians in Gaza who are in dire need.
U.S. officials stated that Blinken also informed the Israelis about ensuring the safety of Palestinian civilians once the war resumes. The Egyptian General Information Authority reported that Egyptian and Qatari mediators are pushing for a new extension of the ceasefire in Gaza for two days.
Thus far, Hamas fighters have released 97 hostages during the ceasefire, including 70 Israeli women and children, in exchange for the release of three Palestinian women and girls for each Israeli hostage, in addition to 27 foreign hostages released in parallel agreements with their governments. With fewer Israeli women and children remaining in Gaza, extending the ceasefire may require new conditions for the release of Israeli men, including soldiers.
#### Three Killed in Jerusalem Attack
Shortly after the agreement, Israeli police reported that two Palestinian attackers opened fire at a bus station during the morning rush hour at the entrance to Jerusalem, killing at least three people. The police stated that the attackers were "neutralized." Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir remarked at the attack site, "This event proves once again how much we must not show weakness, and that we should only talk to Hamas within the scope of (the guns), and through war."
Hamas claimed that the attackers were affiliated with them and the Al-Qassam Brigades took responsibility for the attack in retaliation "for the crimes of the occupation in killing children and women in the Gaza Strip." However, neither party seemed to treat the attack as a clear violation of the ceasefire. A Palestinian official familiar with ceasefire negotiations noted that the terms of the ceasefire do not apply to what he described as responses to Israeli attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Israel pledged to eradicate Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, in response to the group's attack on October 7 that Israel claims resulted in 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 240 others.
#### Destroyed Homes
According to the United Nations, as many as 80% of Gaza's population have been forced to flee their homes, including nearly all residents of the northern sector after Israel ordered their complete evacuation. Once the ceasefire ends, Israel is expected to expand its ground campaign in the south.
Residents of Gaza managed to utilize the week-long ceasefire to go out, visit their homes which have turned to rubble, and recover dozens of bodies from under the debris. However, residents and international agencies indicate that the aid that has arrived so far is inadequate in meeting the immense humanitarian needs of the besieged enclave.
Those who fled northern Gaza, including the city of Gaza, are still barred from returning. Thousands of families are living under harsh conditions in temporary shelters with whatever belongings they have. Mohamed Joudat (25), a Gazan resident speaking from Deir al-Balah in the southern part of the enclave, questioned the usefulness of a ceasefire when they cannot return to their homes. Joudat also mentioned that Israeli soldiers shot at them when they tried to return to check on their homes in the city of Gaza.
U.S. officials stated yesterday that the United States is urging Israel to narrow the combat area and identify places where Palestinian civilians could find safety during any Israeli operations in southern Gaza to prevent a repeat of the high death toll from Israeli attacks in northern Gaza.
Jordan is hosting a conference today, Thursday, with major UN, regional, and international relief agencies to coordinate assistance for Gaza.
