Thursday 24 / October / 2024
The four-day truce between Hamas group and Israel is due to expire on Monday, with a fourth exchange of hostages under the deal expected later in the day.
The delicate truce that began Friday has so far been on track, with Hamas releasing the third group of hostages on Sunday and Israel freeing Palestinian prisoners in return.
Israel said the truce could be extended by an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed, but has vowed to quickly resume its offensive once it ends.
During a phone call with US President Joe Biden on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed this position.
Netanyahu told Biden he would welcome prolonging the truce if 10 hostages are freed per day, but added that "at the end of the deal, we are returning full power to carry out our aims," according to a report in The Times of Israel.
Hamas also said it would be willing to extend the four-day pause in fighting if serious efforts are made to free more Palestinians.
Thai hostages released in latest transfer in good health, says Thai PM
The three Thai nationals released in thethird round of exchanges under a temporary truce deal between Israel and Hamas were in good health, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
"I'm happy," Srettha said, adding the three were not in need of urgent medical attention.
So far, 17 Thai hostages have been released by Hamas militants as part of the truce deal.
They would be brought back to Thailand as soon as possible, Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. "For the remaining 15 Thai hostages, the Royal Thai Government continues to exert all efforts toward their safe release at the earliest opportunity."
