Israel-Gaza war: Hamas hands over 2 female hostages, but shooting that kills 3 in Jerusalem threatens extended truce
- The threat of a renewed escalation in attacks came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, met officials in Israel to seek a longer pause in the conflict
- A Hamas source told Agence France-Presse that 10 more Israeli hostages would be released from Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel
The Palestinian group Hamas said its militants carried out a shooting in Jerusalem on Thursday, killing three people despite agreeing to extend for a day a truce in Gaza and to release at least 10 more Israeli hostages.
The threat of a renewed escalation in attacks came as Washington’s top diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, met officials in Israel to seek a longer pause in the devastating conflict.
The fate of the truce is hanging in the balance once again.
The Israeli military said that two Israeli hostages were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza on Thursday, after truce extension in the enclave between Hamas and Israel.
The two women “are on their way to Israeli territory”, it said in a statement. “In the next few hours, additional Israeli hostages are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross,” it added.
Israel named the women as 21-year-old Mia Schem, who was seized at a dance party along with many of the other hostages abducted into Gaza, and 40-year-old Amit Sosana. Schem also holds French nationality.