Israel-Hamas Conflict: Egyptian Official Says Close To Deal For 2-Day Ceasefire Extension

Hamas announces death of its Jerusalem spokesperson

Hamas has officially announced the death of Mohammed Hamadeh, its official spokesperson for Jerusalem, who was killed in an Israeli air strike before the ceasefire started, as per local media.

11 Israeli hostages, 33 Palestinian detainees to be freed Monday: Egyptian official

A total of 11 Israeli hostages and 33 Palestinians detainees will be released Monday, local media reported, citing an Egyptian official.

It is unclear if issues regarding the hostages and prisoners lists have been resolved.

Egypt says close to agreement on 2-day truce extension

Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypt's State Information Service (SIS), said the mediating parties are close to reaching an agreement to extend the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas for two more days, Reuters reported.

If agreed on, the deal will include the release of 20 Israeli hostages and 60 Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons.

Thai Muslim group says "direct" talks with Hamas key to releasing Thai hostages

Direct negotiations with Hamas played a major role in ensuring that Thai nationals were among the first captives to be freed from Gaza, Lerpong Syed, president of the Thai-Iran Alumni Association, told Reuters on Monday. "We were the sole party that spoke to Hamas since the beginning of the war to ask for the release of Thais," he said.

"If Thailand only relied on the foreign ministry or asked other countries for help – the chances of getting released with the first group would be very low," he added.

Israel open to another 5-day ceasefire for 50 more hostages: Israeli gov't spox

Israel is open to an additional five-day ceasefire that will include the release of 50 more hostages released from captivity from Gaza "should Hamas agree," Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy said in a press conference Monday.

His remarks came amid increasing pressure from the international community for the truce agreement to be extended to facilitate the release of more hostages and to allow more aid to enter the Gaza Strip.

No mothers on Monday list among issues in hostage release list: Israeli official

Another issue that has been causing disagreements over the hostage release list is that no mothers have been included in today's list, CNN reported, citing an Israeli official. Israel reportedly said that part of the agreement states children being held in Gaza with their mothers should be released with them.

A spokesperson with the IDF added that Hamas already breached the deal when one hostage was freed Saturday without her mother.

U.S. unsure whether 2 American women will be released Monday: White House

The White House is still not sure whether two American women being held by Hamas in Gaza will be released Monday, National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson John Kirby said in an interview with CNN This Morning.

As per the ceasefire-hostage agreement, women and children will be released by Hamas. There are two American women hostages known to be held by the militant group after toddler Abigail Mor Edan was released Sunday, as confirmed by the U.S. president. The young girl, whose parents were killed by Hamas on Oct. 7, turned four while in captivity.

Calls mount to extend Gaza ceasefire

The international community is increasing pressure on Israel and Hamas to extend their ceasefire even as issues are dragging on the fourth round of hostage releases.

U.S. President Joe Biden first called on the humanitarian truce to continue, followed by senior European Union and NATO officials.

Read the full story here.

Israel-Hamas close to agreement for truce extension: Egyptian reports

Israel and Hamas are close to reaching a deal in talks for the extension of the ceasefire, local media reported, citing reports in Egypt.

The news comes amid reported disagreements between the parties over hostage and prisoner lists.

IDF arrests 15 Hamas terrorists

The Israeli army arrested 20 wanted persons Sunday night, including 15 Hamas terrorists, the IDF said Monday. The arrests were carried out across two brigade operations around Nablus and Kafr Naama in Ephraim.

Separating families among issues delaying hostage release

The separation of families is one of the issues that has caused contentions between Israel and Hamas, causing the delay in the fourth round of freeing hostages being held by the Palestinian terror group, Haaretz reported.

Separating families so that only part of the family is allowed to return to Israel is a breach of the agreement between the two, as per the report.

IDF continues patrolling operations in Gaza

The Israeli army continues to conduct patrols in the Gaza Strip, as per images posted on X by the IDF Monday morning.

184 hostages still being held in Gaza: Israeli government spox

A total of 184 hostages are still being held in Gaza, Reuters reported Monday, citing an Israeli government spokesperson. Among them are 80 Israelis with dual citizenship, while 14 are foreigners, the report added.

Tens of thousands march in London against anti-Semitism, including Boris Johnson

Thousands of people joined the march in London against anti-Semitism Sunday, multiple outlets reported. Reuters estimated that around 50,000 joined the march, while British media reported that around 100,000 demonstrators attended the event, based on police estimates.

Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson was among the political figures who joined the march. "The only thing we're doing here is showing solidarity with Jewish people," he said.

Musk visits Kfar Aza

On a rainy Monday in Israel, the tech titan visited Kfar Azza, which is among the Israeli settlements that Hamas operatives attacked on Oct. 7. In a video posted on X by local media, Musk can be seen going around the area with Netanyahu and a group of Israeli military personnel.

"Nearly every home in the community of about 700 people that was established in 1951 by Jewish immigrants and refugees was either burned or left pockmarked with bullet holes," as per the ABC News team that visited the kibbutz a few days after the massacre.

German President visits Kibbutz Be'eri, announces $7.6 million donation

Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife, Elka, visited Kibbutz Be'eri Monday morning. The said kibbutz is one of several areas that Hamas militants left devastated the surprise invasion on Oct. 7.

Steinmeier announced that Germany will donate 7 million euros (approximately $7.6 million) "for the reconstruction of the gallery and the cultural center" in the kibbutz, Herzog said in a Google-translated post on X.

Herzog thanked the German leader "and his people for firm and stable support for the State of Israel and its citizens during this difficult time."

Netanyahu welcomes potential extension of truce

Netanyahu on Sunday evening said he welcomed the possibility of the ceasefire being extended, raising hopes for more hostages to be released.

"There is also an outline that says that it is possible to release an additional ten hostages each day. That would be welcome," he said as per a translation of his statement by the Prime Minister's office.

He also reiterated that after the ceasefire, Israel will pursue its war with Hamas to make sure that it eliminates the terror group and prevents Gaza from "being what it was."

Over 40 hostages not being held by Hamas: diplomatic source

More than 40 hostages abducted from Israel on Oct. 7 are currently not being held by Hamas, a diplomatic source briefed on hostage negotiations told CNN Monday. The outlet previously reported that around 40 to 50 of the abducted persons were being held by another group, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) or other militant groups, and potentially other individuals.

3 more Thai nationals released: foreign ministry

Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced Monday that a third group of three Thai citizens were released by Hamas on Sunday and have arrived at a designated medical facility. There are now a total of 17 Thai hostages released so far from Gaza.

There are still 15 Thai hostages in Hamas captivity, the MFA said in a statement. The Royal Thai Government is working to get them freed, the ministry added.

X's Elon Musk to meet Israel's president

X owner Elon Musk is expected to meet Israel's Herzog Monday behind closed doors during the tech mogul's visit to Israel. Herzog is expected to emphasize the need to combat the surge of anti-Semitism online.

Musk has come under fire in recent weeks over what the White House said was "abhorrent promotion of Antisemitic and racist hate." The SpaceX founder seemed to agree with a post that accused Jewish communities of "hatred against whites" when he responded to the post, saying, "You have said the actual truth."

Israel, Hamas raise issues over hostage, prisoner lists: official

Israel and Hamas have both raised concerns regarding the lists of hostages and prisoners slated for release Monday, Reuters reported, citing an official briefed on the matter. Qatari mediators are communicating with the two sides to avoid delays in freeing the hostages and detainees, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The exact reason for Israel taking issue with the lists is unclear. The militant group, on the other hand, took issue with the list of prisoners to be freed due to six security prisoners arrested before the Oct. 7 attack in Israel, Haaretz reported, citing Palestinian sources.

Furthermore, there was reportedly expectation that 16-year-old Nafooz Hammad, convicted of attempted murder for stabbing an Israeli woman two years ago, would be released Thursday but was not among the prisoners who were freed that day, as per the report. Hamas is reportedly urging the Israeli government to implement a "seniority principle" in releasing detainees.