Day 3 of Israel-Palestine Ceasefire... Netanyahu "Welcomes Extension, Will Launch All-Out War if It Ends"

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, expressed to U.S. President Joe Biden his intention to launch an all-out military operation in the Gaza Strip once the ceasefire with Hamas ends.

On the 26th (local time), during a phone call with President Biden, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated, "Once the temporary ceasefire ends, we will fully resume military operations in the Gaza Strip," according to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.

However, Netanyahu added that he welcomes the extension of the ceasefire as Hamas continues to release 10 additional hostages daily, as per the prior agreement.

The White House announced that President Biden welcomed Hamas's release of hostages, including an American girl, over the past three days during his call with Netanyahu.

Palestinian prisoner Isra Jabis (center), who was released as part of the second hostage and detainee exchange between Israel and the Palestinian armed faction Hamas, arrived at his home in East Jerusalem on the 26th (local time) and embraced his family. Jabis was imprisoned with severe burns after being accused of injuring an Israeli police officer in 2015. [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed gratitude to President Biden for his tireless efforts to mediate and fully implement the hostage release agreement. The two leaders agreed to continue working to ensure the release of all hostages and discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip, including the ceasefire and the expansion of humanitarian aid.

On the third day of the ceasefire with Israel, Hamas announced the release of 17 additional hostages and expressed its intention to push for an extension of the ceasefire. In a statement, Hamas said, "We are seeking to extend the four-day ceasefire after it ends." It also emphasized, "We are striving to increase the number of those released as specified in the agreement on the humanitarian ceasefire."

Israel and Hamas began a four-day temporary ceasefire on the 24th, involving a phased exchange of hostages and prisoners. The ceasefire is scheduled to end at 7 a.m. on the 28th as planned.

The Israeli cabinet approved the negotiation terms with Hamas, setting the maximum ceasefire duration at 10 days and limiting the release of Palestinian prisoners to up to 300. According to the ceasefire agreement, Hamas has released about 50 Israeli and foreign hostages out of approximately 240 held as of this day.