Israeli forces and Hamas fighters held their fire on Nov 28, beyond the original deadline of a four-day truce, which had been extended at the last minute for at least two days to let more hostages go free.
With both sides expressing hope of further extensions, mediator Qatar hosted the spy chiefs from Israel’s Mossad and the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency at a meeting to “build on progress”, a source briefed on the visits told Reuters.
A single column of black smoke could be seen rising above the obliterated wasteland of the northern Gaza war zone from across the fence in Israel.
But there was no sign of jets in the sky, or any rumble of explosions.
Both sides reported some Israeli tank fire in the Sheikh Radwan district of Gaza City in the morning, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.
A spokesperson for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said: “After suspects approached IDF troops, an IDF tank fired a warning shot.”
During the four-day truce, which began on Nov 24, Hamas released 50 Israeli women and children from among 240 hostages it captured on Oct 7.
In return, Israel released 150 Palestinians held in its prisons.
Hamas also separately released 19 foreign hostages, mainly Thai farm workers, under separate deals parallel to the truce agreement.
Israel has said the truce could extend indefinitely as long as Hamas continues to release at least 10 hostages per day.
But with fewer women and children left in captivity, keeping the guns quiet beyond Nov 29 could require negotiating the release of at least some Israeli men for the first time.
“We hope the (Israeli) Occupation abides (by the agreement) in the next two days because we are seeking a new agreement, besides women and children, whereby other categories that we have that we can swop,” Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya told Al Jazeera late on Nov 27.
Denne historien er fra November 29, 2023-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 29, 2023-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Response to retention of Siglap block shows everyday buildings have value
As to what to do with it now, one could look to Hong Kong's Mei Ho House for inspiration
Worker taken to hospital after falling 2.3m at RTS Link construction site
A construction worker was injured on Oct 10 after falling from a height of about 2.3m at a worksite for the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link station in Woodlands North.
Battered Florida begins long road to recovery after major hurricanes
Many still without power, water and sewage services; clearing of debris may take months
Famous red gate at Tokyo university in danger of collapsing
TOKYO — Generations of Japan’s top scholars and leaders have passed through it on their way to building an advanced society. Now the Akamon Gate, the distinctive red gate on The University of Tokyo’s campus in central Tokyo, is in danger of collapse.
Northern Lights animate night skies around the globe
NEW YORK - Night skies came aglow on Oct 10 with the shimmering palette of the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis.
Remains of climber who went missing 100 years ago found on Everest
KATHMANDU – A documentary team discovered human remains on Mount Everest apparently belonging to a man who went missing while trying to reach the summit of the peak 100 years ago, National Geographic magazine reported on Oct 11.
From timber to tech Sibu's spotty transition to joining Sarawak's booming economy
SIBU, Sarawak - On the hour-long cruise along Sibu's waterfront, a recorded audio commentary boasts that the town once had more millionaires than anywhere else in Borneo, thanks to the post-war timber boom.
Two Singaporeans among six opera performers arrested in Penang
BUTTERWORTH, Penang - Six foreign opera actors, including two Singaporean women, were apprehended in Penang, Malaysia, for allegedly breaching their social visit passes by staging performances.
Woman in Russian tank factory sent to penal colony for selling info to Ukraine
MOSCOW - A woman who worked for a Russian tank factory was convicted of treason and sentenced to 12 1/2 years in a penal colony on Oct 11 for selling military information to Ukraine.
Malaysians capitalising on stronger ringgit to buy gadgets
GEORGE TOWN, Penang - With the ringgit on an upward trend, upgrading electronic gadgets seems to be on everyone's minds in Malaysia now.
