In a significant development, Hamas released another group of hostages on Monday, following an agreement between the Palestinian group and Israel to extend the short-term cease-fire in the Gaza Strip for an additional two days. The 11 hostages, who were held by Hamas, have now been safely returned to Israeli territory, according to the Israeli military and security services. The Red Cross confirmed that the group had been handed over into its care just a few hours prior. Dr. Majed Al-Ansari, the spokesperson for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, revealed that the released group consisted of three French citizens, two German citizens, and six Argentinian citizens. In return, Israel has released 33 Palestinians, including 30 minors and three women, from its prisons. The announcement of the two-day extension of the temporary cease-fire was made by Qatar, the mediating country that has been facilitating negotiations between Hamas and Israel, along with the support of the US. John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council at the White House, confirmed the extension and stated that Hamas had agreed to release an additional 20 hostages over the next two days. He also mentioned that efforts were underway to extend the cease-fire beyond the initial two-day extension.

The temporary truce, which began on Friday and was initially meant to last for four days, has provided a much-needed respite from the conflict that has engulfed the region. The negotiations leading up to the cease-fire were prompted by the deadly attacks carried out by Hamas militants on Israel on October 7th, followed by a retaliatory Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip. Under the terms of the cease-fire agreement brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, Hamas pledged to release at least 50 women and children who had been abducted in Israel during the October 7th attack and held captive in Gaza. In return, Israel agreed to free around 150 Palestinian women and children who had been detained in its prisons. The cease-fire has also allowed for the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid to reach the war-torn Gaza Strip, which has suffered extensive damage due to the airstrikes.

The extension of the cease-fire is seen as a calculated risk by the White House, as it provides Hamas with an opportunity to rest and regroup its fighters. However, the US has continued to push for the release of eight or nine American hostages who are believed to be held captive in Gaza. The first American hostage, four-year-old Abigail Edan, was released on Sunday and reunited with her remaining family. Her parents had tragically been killed in front of her during the October 7th attacks. Joe Biden, who personally spoke with the emir of Qatar to resolve a delay in the release of hostages on Saturday, welcomed the cease-fire extension and hinted at the possibility of a longer pause in the fighting. He emphasized the US's commitment to securing the release of all hostages held by Hamas terrorists.

The release of the hostages on Monday is reported to have focused on allegations that Hamas deliberately separated families by releasing children without their parents over the weekend. According to Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper, the majority of the hostages were from Nir Oz, a kibbutz in southern Israel where almost a quarter of the residents were either kidnapped or killed during the October 7th attacks. The US estimates that there are still eight or nine American hostages in captivity in Gaza, although it suspects that some may be held by groups other than Hamas. American intelligence officials have faced difficulties in locating all the hostages, leading to suspicions that Hamas intentionally delayed the release of US citizens to strengthen its negotiating position with Israel.

It is worth noting that Hamas has indicated its willingness to negotiate the release of Israeli soldiers captured during the October 7th attacks separately from the discussions concerning civilian hostages. Hamas has long maintained that it would only release Israeli troops in exchange for the release of all Palestinians held in Israeli jails, many of whom were imprisoned on terrorism charges. Despite the extension of the cease-fire, both Israel and Hamas have expressed their intentions to continue the conflict once the cease-fire ends. John Kirby, the White House's national security spokesman, has acknowledged the risk that extending the cease-fire poses, as it allows Hamas to refit and rearm its fighters. Ant??nio Guterres, the United Nations secretary-general, welcomed the extension of the truce as a sign of hope and humanity but cautioned that two more days would not be sufficient to meet Gaza's urgent aid needs. He expressed his hope that the additional time would enable an increase in humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian population in Gaza.