Live Updates: Hamas fighters told to prepare for battle if Gaza truce expires

Thursday, November 30, 2023

04:20 GMT -No decision on extending truce, swap deals

International pressure is growing on Israel and Hamas to extend a truce on after another exchange of captives for Palestinians and humanitarian aid was delivered to besieged Gaza.

Israeli "War Council" meanwhile concluded its meeting with no decision on extending the pause, TRT World understands. Some Israeli media outlets citing source said "Hamas' list of the new batch of captives does not meet the agreed-upon standards."

The truce is set to expire at 7am [Gaza time / 0500 GMT].

"The Al-Qassam Brigades asks its active forces to maintain high combat readiness in the last hours of the truce," the resistance group said in a statement. Fighters should "remain on such footing unless an official statement is issued confirming the extension of the truce," the statement added.

03:49 GMT - China calls for two-state solution

China has called on the United Nations Security Council to formulate a timetable and roadmap for a two-state solution to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue.

The proposal was laid out in a position paper on the Gaza conflict released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, and as China took over the rotating presidency of the Security Council for November.

The Security Council needs to intensify its diplomatic mediation, relaunch the two-state solution and convene a "more authoritative and effective" international peace conference as soon as possible, the paper said.

03:15 GMT - Activist Ahed Tamimi among Palestinians freed by Israel

Prominent Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi was among 30 Palestinians freed by Israel under a temporary truce between Israel and the resistance group Hamas, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials.

Israeli troops earlier this month arrested Tamimi, regarded in the occupied West Bank as a hero since she was a teenager, on suspicion of inciting violence.

Her mother has denied the allegation and said it was based on a fake social media post.

03:00 GMT - Israeli soldiers convert Palestinian building in Gaza into synagogue: report

Israeli soldiers have converted a Palestinian building into a Jewish synagogue during their ground operation in northern Gaza, local media reported.

The Jerusalem Post said that "Israeli soldiers have established a synagogue in the heart of the Gaza Strip during the ground invasion."

The newspaper did not specify the location of the converted building but published photos of the entrance, which features a large sign that reads "Abraham Temple."

02:30 GMT - Hamas ready to exchange all Israeli soldiers for all Palestinians

A senior Hamas official has said the resistance group was ready to release all the Israeli soldiers it is holding captive in exchange for all Palestinian prisoners incarcerated in Israel, amid negotiations to extend a truce in Israel's war on Gaza.

"We are ready to release all soldiers in exchange for all our prisoners," Hamas official and former Gaza health minister Bassem Naim told a press conference in Cape Town, South Africa.

The offer came as Hamas released 16 captives from Gaza ahead of expiry of truce and swap deal. Palestinians freed from Israeli jails included 16 minors and 14 women, Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

02:14 GMT - Israel frees 30 Palestinians; Hamas releases 10 Israeli captives and 4 Thais

A group of 10 Israeli captives and four Thais freed by Hamas in Gaza have arrived in Egypt, state-linked television showed, as negotiations intensified for an extension to a truce pausing fighting in the Palestinian territory.

In a statement, the Israeli military said the released captives were on their way to Israel through Egyptian territory.

"10 Israeli citizens are being released as part of the agreement, including five dual citizens: a Dutch dual citizen, who is also a minor - three German dual citizens - one American dual citizen," Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said, adding that two Russian citizens and four Thais were also released.

02:00 GMT - US top diplomat Blinken arrives in Israel to discuss truce

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Tel Aviv, his third trip to the region since the October 7 Hamas blitz on Israel. Blinken is set to meet with Israeli leaders to discuss extending the temporary truce.

During his trip, Blinken is also expected to visit the Israeli-occupied West Bank and will likely meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a Palestinian official said.

01:15 GMT - Hamas unsatisfied with Israeli truce extension proposals: AFP

A Hamas source said, hours before a truce in Israel's war on Gaza was set to expire, that the Palestinian resistance group was not satisfied with Israel's proposals for another extension.

"What is being proposed in the discussions to extend the truce is not the best," the source told AFP news agency, adding that the talks were focused on an extension of "two days or more" of the pause which has seen daily exchanges of hostages for Palestinian prisoners and aid deliveries into besieged Gaza.

01:09 GMT - Biden urged to condemn Israeli killings of Palestinian children in West Bank

A Muslim American advocacy group has urged President Joe Biden to condemn Israel's killings of two Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank.

Adam Samer al Ghoul, 8, and Basil Suleiman Abu al Wafa, 15, were fatally shot by Israeli forces during an 18-hour raid in Jenin that also saw major destruction in the city and its refugee camp.

Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Biden "should condemn the killing of Palestinian children in the same way that he rightly condemns violence targeting others."

For our live updates from Wednesday (November 29), click here.