Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the extension of the current truce between the Palestinian Hamas movement and Israel. This came in a statement issued in Brussels by the headquarters of the European Union’s executive body.
After the two sides agreed yesterday, Monday, to extend the four-day truce in Gaza, which entered into force last Friday morning, for two additional days, just hours before its end.
"I welcome the agreement reached to extend for two days the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas," von der Leyen said in the statement.
She continued, "I once again call on Hamas to release all detainees who were taken during their attack on October 7."
The agreement reached by Israel and Hamas last week stipulates the possibility of extending the ceasefire in exchange for the release of 10 more detainees per day.
So far, 150 Palestinian prisoners have been released from Israeli prisons, while more than 50 Israeli detainees have been released from Gaza.
In total, the deal stipulates the exchange of a maximum of 100 detainees for up to 300 Palestinian prisoners inside Israeli prisons, over a period of 10 days.
Von der Leyen said extending the ceasefire would allow more civilians in the Gaza Strip to receive "essential aid."
According to her, the European Commission has so far transported 900 tons of aid to the Gaza Strip via Egypt via 20 flights. She added that four more flights are scheduled to follow this week.
"In the past four days, we have been pleased to see the release of the first Israeli detainees, along with detainees of other nationalities," she said.
She continued, "I also welcome the significant increase in the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, which has been made possible by this cessation of hostilities."
It is noteworthy that Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on October 7th. About 1,200 people were killed in the attack in the Israeli border settlements near Gaza, and about 240 people were detained inside the coastal strip.
Israel responded by launching its heaviest bombardment on the densely populated Gaza Strip to date, and also began a ground attack on the coastal enclave, which has been controlled by Hamas since 2007, which has so far killed about 15,000 Palestinians in Gaza and injured more than 36,000, according to the report. To the Ministry of Health run by Hamas.
In the same context, and commenting on the news of extending the humanitarian truce, the Secretary-General of the United Nations said that this is a ray of hope and humanity amid the darkness of war. He expressed hope that, during the extension of the truce, relief agencies would be able to "further increase humanitarian aid to the severely suffering population of Gaza."
While answering questions from journalists in New York, António Guterres said that this additional period will not allow all the enormous needs of the people of Gaza to be met. According to what was stated in the United Nations daily news bulletin, a copy of which we received on Tuesday morning.
In response to a question about the call directed to Israel to open the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, the Secretary-General expressed his hope that other crossings will be opened because they will facilitate the process of delivering and distributing aid.
Regarding the situation in Gaza after the war, and his emphasis on the importance of a strengthened Palestinian Authority assuming responsibilities in the Strip, Guterres said that it is important first to consider the existence of a transitional period, and that it is too early to know how things will take place.
  But he added: “We need a Palestinian Authority to assume responsibility for governance in Gaza and the West Bank and create the conditions to ensure that the two-state solution moves forward, this time, irreversibly. This will naturally lead to a strengthened Palestinian Authority. I believe the international community must be prepared.” To support her."
The situation in Gaza is catastrophic
Tor Wensland, the United Nations Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, renewed the Secretary-General's call for a complete humanitarian ceasefire for the benefit of the people of Gaza, Israel and the entire region.
He expressed his optimism about the announcement of extending the agreement reached by Israel and Hamas with Qatari mediation and support from Egypt and the United States of America.
He said - in a press statement - that the humanitarian truce period, which lasted 4 days and began on the 24th of this month, “witnessed the release of 51 Israelis and 18 foreign hostages, including women and children, who had been held in Gaza since they were kidnapped by Hamas and others on the 7th of the month.” "October."
He added: "At the same time, 150 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including women and children, were released from Israeli prisons."
He said that the period of cessation of fighting allowed the United Nations and its partners to expand the scope of delivering humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip, including to the northern areas of the Strip.
He welcomed what he described as an important humanitarian achievement, especially for civilians who live in torment or under weapons or bombing. He called for the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza.
Tor Wensland said that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic and requires the smooth, predictable and continuous introduction of more aid and supplies to alleviate the unbearable suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza.