Hamas announced in a statement on Sunday that it is seeking to extend its four-day truce with Israel should serious efforts be made to increase the number of Palestinian detainees released from Israel.
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The fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas was back on track Sunday as the terrorists freed 17 more hostages, including 14 Israelis and the first American, in a third set of releases under a four-day truce that the US said it hoped would be extended.
Some hostages were handed over directly to Israel, while others left through Egypt. Israel's army said one was airlifted to a hospital. US President Joe Biden said the elderly woman was "very sick and was in need of immediate medical help." Hundreds of Israelis draped in flags cheered and sang as freed hostages, waving, arrived at an air force base. They were being flown to hospitals.
The hostages ranged in age from 4 to 84 and included Avigail Edan, a 4-year-old girl and dual citizen whose parents were killed in the Hamas attack that started the war on Oct. 7. "What she endured was unthinkable," Biden said of the first American freed under the truce. He did not know her condition. He did not have updates on other American hostages and said his goal was to extend the cease-fire deal as long as possible.
Video: Netanyahu visits Gaza / Credit: YouTube/@IsraeliPM
In all, nine children ages 17 and younger were on the list, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. Separately, Hamas said it released a Russian hostage "in response to the efforts of Russian President Vladimir Putin." The Russian-Israeli citizen was the first male hostage to be freed.
Israel's prison service later said it had begun the process of releasing 39 Palestinian prisoners. A convoy of vehicles was seen leaving Ofer military prison in the occupied West Bank.
A fourth exchange is expected on Monday – the last day of the cease-fire during which a total of 50 hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners are to be freed. All are women and minors.
International mediators led by the US, Egypt, and Qatar are trying to extend the cease-fire that began Friday.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu visited the troops in the Gaza Strip on Sunday. "We are making every effort to return our hostages, and at the end of the day we will return everyone," Netanyahu said, adding that "we are continuing until the end, until victory. Nothing will stop us."
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