As the deadline for the ceasefire in Gaza approaches, international negotiators are working diligently to extend it, aiming to facilitate the release of hostages held by militants and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. This ceasefire has temporarily halted the most severe conflict between Israel and Palestinians in years.
In a concerning development in the volatile Gaza Strip, a skirmish broke out between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists on Tuesday. This incident has cast a shadow over the ongoing efforts to sustain the ceasefire in the region.
According to a report in Israeli media, two Palestinians were killed while fighting Israeli forces in Judea and Samaria. The first death occurred near Beitunia, as confirmed by the Palestinian health ministry, and the second in Ramallah, based on information from medical sources.
Since October 7, over 200 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the area known commonly as the West Bank, most of the deaths have been combatants from various terror factions in Jenin and Nablus. The region has witnessed increased tensions and violence, particularly near the checkpoint opposite Ofer prison on the outskirts of Jerusalem, west of Ramallah. Here, clashes erupted between Israeli forces and Palestinians who had gathered to welcome prisoners being released.
In a separate incident, two men were hospitalized after being shot in the legs by Israeli forces during a raid on the Deir Ammar refugee camp, located to the west of Ramallah. It was not clear from the reporting if the men were combatants or were caught in the crossfire. Israeli forces had come to demolish the home the terrorist who attacked the Maccabum checkpoint in August. Additionally, the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security agency announced the arrest of Palestinian Osama Bani Fadl. Fadl was apprehended on charges of involvement in the fatal attack on an Israeli father and son in the West Bank town of Huwara in August.
The Palestinians report that last night in the village of Deir Amar (#Ramallah district) the #IDF blew up the house of the terrorist who carried out the attack at the Maccabim checkpoint near Modi'in at the end of August of this year in which an IDF soldier was killed (1/2) pic.twitter.com/QhA5pMAcjj
The victims of the attack, Shay Silas Nigreker, aged 60, and his son, Aviad Nir, 28, residents of Ashdod, were shot and killed at a carwash in Huwara, located south of Nablus.
This arrest was made amidst a period of heightened tensions and confrontations in the West Bank, which, according to Palestinian health officials, resulted in the deaths of eight Palestinians over a span of 24 hours.
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Ahed Tamimi, a notable Palestinian figure recognized internationally after a 2017 incident where she slapped an Israeli soldier, is among 50 Palestinian prisoners who might be released by Israel. This potential release is part of a negotiation for the freedom of Israeli hostages. Her name appeared on the list however it is uncertain if she will be released tonight or tomortow. Tamimi was arrested again three weeks ago after inciting violence against Israel on Istagram where she supported Hamas's massacre in a fiery and defiant call to action.
Tamimi, who was imprisoned for eight months following the 2017 event, has continued to face legal challenges. Most recently, she was arrested on November 6 during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank. The charges against her include inciting violence and promoting terrorist activities through an Instagram post. However, her family contends that she did not author the post, suggesting her online accounts are often compromised.
According to a recent report by The New York Times, Israel is considering holding Tamimi under administrative detention, a move that has drawn attention to her case and its implications in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian tensions. The fact is, she was arrested under a hate speech law and is awaiting judiscial review due to the volume of cases in front of the court.
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Also, In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Ruti Munder, a 78-year-old Israeli who was recently released from Hamas captivity, shared her harrowing experience. Initially, she and her family, including her daughter Keren and grandson Ohad Munder-Zichri, who turned nine during the ordeal, received decent meals such as chicken with rice and canned food. However, as economic hardships hit their captors, their living conditions deteriorated.
Munder, her husband Avraham, and their family were abducted from their home in Nir Oz, a southern Israeli kibbutz, on October 7. Tragically, her son lost his life in the attack. While Avraham remains captive, Ruti was released in good health. She detailed their initial adequate treatment, including regular tea and sweets for the children, which worsened over time due to food shortages, a consequence of the ongoing siege in Gaza.
FINALLY! Ohad Munder, his mother Keren, and grandmother Ruti in the first moments of reuniting with Ohad's father, brother, and other family members.@NEWSMAXpic.twitter.com/0FaOAQ8Ecj
Life in captivity was tough. Munder recounted sleeping on plastic chairs, using only a sheet for cover, in a stifling room where opening blinds was prohibited. Despite these conditions, she remained hopeful of their release, clinging to the belief that their survival indicated a chance for freedom. This ordeal sheds light on the challenges faced by hostages in Gaza, revealing the personal impact of the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Seventeen hostages, including 14 Israelis and three Thai nationals, were released from Hamas captivity and returned to Israel on Sunday evening. The Israeli group comprised nine children, two mothers, two women, and a man. Despite initial health checks indicating good condition, an elderly Israeli was immediately airlifted to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba for treatment.
In a startling speech delivered in Kuwait, Jibril Rajoub, secretary general of Fatahโs Central Committee, has openly justified the horrific October 7 massacre perpetrated by Hamas. This act, which resulted in the tragic loss of over 1,200 Israeli lives and the abduction of around 240 people into Gaza, was described by Rajoub as part of the "defensive war" waged by Palestinians.