Hamas is ready for a cease-fire, saying that it would be happy to have Hostages at home

  

Hostage Square, Tel Aviv — The temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has been extended for an additional two days to facilitate the release of more hostages by the militant group and additional Palestinian prisoners to be freed by Israel. Israeli officials have approved a new list of Palestinian prisoners to be released contingent upon Hamas fulfilling their promise to release more hostages. Israel has also received a list of names from Hamas of the hostages it plans to free later today.

According to Israel, approximately 170 people remain captive in Gaza, although not all are held by Hamas. U.S. officials have stated their ongoing efforts to secure further extensions in the truce and their commitment to continue negotiations until all individuals are released.

A Hamas representative informed CBS News on Tuesday that the organization, which has long held the status of a terrorist group according to the U.S., Israel, and multiple other countries, intended to pursue further negotiations for an extension of the ceasefire.

 This extension would entail the release of male hostages and the return of abducted Israeli soldiers, in addition to the ongoing release of women and children. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to provide any comments regarding potential discussions for a new agreement with Hamas.

To date, Hamas has freed a total of 69 hostages over four consecutive nights, with the latest group of 11 individuals being released on Monday night. Among these were eight children, the youngest of whom was a pair of twins aged just 3 years old.

 Israel has fulfilled its commitment by releasing 150 Palestinian prisoners, some of whom are teenagers and others who were imprisoned for minor offenses such as stone-throwing.

In Israel, after weeks of anguish, numerous families can finally breathe a sigh of relief. There have been heartwarming reunions, including that of Maayan Zin, who can now hold her daughters Ella and Dafna in her arms.