A month may pass before a window opens for a new truce in the war between Israel and Hamas, with the consequent release of other hostages held in the Gaza Strip. News of the timing was provided by Israeli Army Radio, which cited security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, as saying it would take a month to apply the military pressure on Hamas necessary to persuade the militants to a temporary ceasefire. Israeli military operations must continue both north and south of the Gaza Strip in order to exert the necessary pressure, the sources explain.
Under the agreement brokered by Qatar and Egypt, which expired on Friday, 105 Hamas civilian hostages were released from Gaza: 81 Israelis, 23 Thai citizens and one Filipino. Earlier, four hostages were freed and one was rescued, while three bodies were recovered lifeless. Israeli authorities believe 138 hostages remain in Gaza, including around 20 women and two young children.
Meanwhile, troops from the 460th armored brigade and the 50th battalion of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Nahal brigade discovered one of Hamas’ largest arms depots in the northern Gaza Strip. According to the IDF, inside the hideout located near a clinic and a school were dozens of anti-tank missiles, explosives and grenades, long-range rockets and several drones. Many weapons were destroyed while others were taken to Israel for further investigation. “All terrorist infrastructures were found close to civilian buildings. This is further proof of the cynical use that the terrorist organization Hamas makes of the residents of the Gaza Strip as a human shield”, accuses the army of the Jewish State of the Palestinian terrorists.
Source: IL Tempo

John Cameron is a journalist at The Nation View specializing in world news and current events, particularly in international politics and diplomacy. With expertise in international relations, he covers a range of topics including conflicts, politics and economic trends.