Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said Sunday that a pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas could be extended if the militant group releases more hostages than was agreed upon days earlier in a deal in which a total of 50 people are expected to be released.
Israel and Hamas agreed to a four-day truce, in which 50 hostages are expected to be released. Al-Thani said on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” in a rare appearance on U.S. media, that he is “hopeful” that a possible extension could be in place but that he will not know for sure until the fourth day of the truce.
“[W]e are hopeful. According to the agreement that [has] been agreed upon in the last few days for this four days pause,” Al Thani said. “The agreement has a provision that if Hamas are — will be able to prove, to locate, and secure some of the hostages that are within the criteria of the first group, which is women and children, then it will be extended depends on — on the number that they will have.”
He said that Qatar has two delegations who are dealing with the unfolding situation in Gaza and Israel. He said that Qatar’s delegation to Gaza is focused on making sure humanitarian aid to the territory is “sufficient,” adding that that delegation is a “pure humanitarian mission.” He said the delegation in Israel is monitoring the releases of the hostages.
Twenty-four hostages were released Friday in the first wave, and an additional 17 were released Saturday, including a 9-year-old Israeli Irish girl who was believed to be dead. Al-Thani said that 4-year-old American girl Abigail Idan is on the list of hostages who are set to be released Sunday, reiterating what national security adviser Jake Sullivan told a host of networks on the political news shows.
Al-Thani also said he is hoping more Americans will be released soon.
“But you know, we are working on daily basis and making sure that every day we have the rest of the next day,” he said. “So we are hopeful that to have — to have a confirmation of, you know, a proof of life for them and hopefully, the result at the end of the agreement. As I mentioned, things are happening on a daily basis and we are focused on today’s operation and hopefully that will happen very shortly from now.”
Hamas militants took about 240 people hostage during its initial attack on Israel on Oct. 7, which left more than 1,200 Israelis dead. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has reported more than 12,000 Palestinian deaths since the outbreak of the war.