Israeli official says if Hamas names 10 women to be released, truce could be reinstated

IDF strikes Khan Yunis on Friday

Israeli officials said on Friday that the fighting in Gaza could still be halted and the humanitarian truce reinstated for one day, if Hamas delivers the names of 10 women held hostage that would be released. Meanwhile efforts to mediate a pause in the fighting continued in Qatar.

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Deputy Hamas leader in Gaza Khalil al-Hayya said on Friday that Israel rejected a number of suggestions to exchange hostages for prisoners but insisted on the release of female soldiers. Hamas also claimed it was "struggling" to gain access to four female hostages being held by other groups. The terrorists were using hostages with American passports as leverage.

7 View gallery Rockets fired from Gaza toward Israel on Friday ( Photo: Amir Cohen / Reuters )

Some of the families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza issued a statement calling on the government to exhaust every option to halt the renewed fighting and return to the truce that would free more of the captives from Gaza. "Opting for the fighting over the release of hostages is a desertion of our loved ones," Udi Goren, whose cousin Tal Haimi is held in Gaza, said. The families said the resumption of the IDF offensive endangers the lives of the hostages amid bombings and after their health was deteriorating while in captivity.

The Foreign Ministry in Qatar said on Friday in a statement that negotiations were still continuing to reach a cease-fire in Gaza. Doha also called for humanitarian aid to be allowed into the Strip.

7 View gallery Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani shakes hands with President Issac Herzog

President Issac Herzog who is attending the Convention on Climate Change (COP) in the UAE met and shook hands for the first time on Friday with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The IDF said on Friday that with the resumption of fighting it had published a map to advise Gazans of safe areas for their evacuation.

7 View gallery IDF posts map for Gaza civilians seeking safe areas ( Photo: IDF )

"This divides the territory of the Gaza Strip into areas according to recognizable areas to enable the residents of Gaza to orient themselves and understand the instructions, and to evacuate from specific places for their safety if required," the military said.

7 View gallery Residents of Khan Yunis head east to avoid Israeli strikes ( Photo: Mahmud Hams / AFP )

The Prime Minister's office said in a statement earlier that Hamas violated the terms of the truce and failed to meet its obligation to release hostages and free all abducted women held in Gaza. "Israel's government is committed to achieve the objectives of the war - to free hostages, eliminate Hamas and ensure Gaza can never be a threat to the safety of Israelis."

The IDF said that Hamas violated the operational pause and fired rockets at Israel and as a result, the fighting will resume. "The IDF has resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip," the military said. IDF strikes were reported in the northern parts of the Strip and in the area of Rafah and Khan Yunis, in the South.

7 View gallery Israel strikes targets in Gaza

Residents of Khan Yunis were seen heading out of the city, to avoid injury amid the strikes.

According to officials, Hamas failed to provide the names of hostages that would be released in a further day of the truce. Israelis were cautioned to take precautions in case of rocket attacks on Israeli cities. According to the Home Front Command, schools can operate only where children can reach protected areas in sufficient time for their safety.

Sounds of explosions were heard early on Friday, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip after a rocket that was fired at Israel less than one hour before the deadline for Hamas to provide the names of additional hostages to be freed or end the truce. Rocket fire continued into the morning.

7 View gallery Israeli hostages released in Gaza on Thursday

Earlier the Wall Street Journal quoted Egyptian officials who said a further extension of the truce was agreed to be Israel and the Hamas, allowing the release of 10 more hostages. There was no Israeli confirmation to the report.

7 View gallery IDF troops in Gaza ( Photo: IDF )

According to the WSJ, U.S. officials said they expected that Israel’s military campaign would resume as Israeli forces seek to root out Hamas and begin to move southward in Gaza. The focus now among U.S. officials has been on working with Israel on tactics that ensure minimal civilian casualties, U.S. officials said.