Hamas claims dozens of Israeli child hostages being held by unknown Gaza ‘gangs’
Hamas has claimed dozens of child hostages are being held in Gaza - but doesn't known their whereabouts as they were snatched by unknown "gangs", according to reports.
An estimated 240 people were snatched by the militant group on October 7 - with dozens now being released as part of a four-day ceasefire agreed with Israel. The deal, brokered by Qatar, consists of 150 Palestinian prisoners being exchanged for 50 Israeli women and children.
Israel claims it is open to extending the truce - due to come to an end tonight - if Hamas agrees to release more of the captives. It has offered an extra day for every 10 people sent home. It comes as US President Joe Biden has put pressure on Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu to increase the ceasefire.
Sharon Hertzman (R) huggs hugs her son Omer at Sheba Medical Center (Haim Zach/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)Qatari PM Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani told the Financial Times: "If they [Hamas] get additional women and children, there will be an extension. We don't yet have any clear information how many they can find because ... one of the purposes [of the pause in fighting] is they [Hamas] will have time to search for the rest of the missing people."
There are some concerns Hamas is only using the ceasefire to regroup as it prepares to restart the fighting. The group has again reiterated that it didn't kidnap any civilians when its fighters crossed the border into Israel last month and massacred scores of people.
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It comes despite Hamas' own members filming themselves snatching hostages. The Qatari PM said yesterday Israel is willing to add to the deal if "there's proof" Hamas has more women and children to release, "but nothing beyond that".
International Red Cross vehicles, carrying Israeli hostages released from Gaza, on their way through the Rafah crossing (Anadolu via Getty Images)He claims the 50 figure was agreed because that was the number the militant group had access to. Sheikh Mohammed added another militant faction in Gaza - Palestinian Islamic Jihad - is coordinating with Hamas on the hostage release. And he warned the conflict might spread and destabilise "the entire region" if an extended ceasefire is not secured.
17 more hostages were released yesterday, including four-year-old Israeli-American Abigail Edan, whose parents were murdered on October 7. Biden said his aim is "to keep this pause going beyond tomorrow, so that we can continue to see more hostages come out and surge more humanitarian relief to those in need in Gaza".
Israeli youth groups wave Israeli flags and sing and dance as a second helicopter with hostages released (Getty Images)Netanyahu - who is said to be open to an extension - reportedly said: "At the end of the deal, we are returning full power to carry out our aims: destroy Hamas, ensure that Gaza won’t return to what it was and of course to free all of our hostages."
The truce also involves Israel delivering more aid into Gaza. The Israel Defence Forces said 200 trucks had entered the Strip on Sunday, loaded with 3,600 tons of tents, blankets, and mattresses, among other humanitarian supplies. Since the start of the ceasefire on Friday, Hamas has released 39 Israeli women and children and 18 foreign nationals, while Israel has freed 117 Palestinian women and children from its prisons.
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