US refuses to predict how long fighting will last, Israel destroys a tunnel, Hamas comments on ceasefire

Before the ceasefire came into effect, the Israeli army destroyed a large Hamas tunnel in the Al-Shifa hospital area in the Gaza Strip.

Các tòa nhà bị phá hủy bởi những cuộc không kích của Israel trong trại Jabalia dành cho người tị nạn Palestine ở thành phố Gaza, ngày 11/11. (Nguồn: Getty)

Buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in Gaza City, November 11. (Source: Getty)

On November 24, US President Joe Biden appreciated the US diplomatic measures after Hamas released 24 hostages earlier that day.

President Biden also stressed that it was just the beginning of what he expected to be more hostage releases by Hamas in the coming days.

“Starting this morning, as a result of extensive American diplomacy, including multiple calls I have made from the Oval Office to leaders across the region, there will be a four-day pause in the fighting in Gaza,” the US leader said at a press conference.

President Biden declined to predict how long the war between Israel and Hamas would last, but said he thought the chances of extending the ongoing ceasefire were “real.”

In another development on the same day, the Keystone-SDA news agency cited a decision by the Swiss Federal Council saying that Bern is taking steps to end relations with three non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Palestine.

According to the announcement, the Swiss government accused three NGOs, including the Palestine Center for Human Rights (PCHR), the Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO) and Al-Shabaka/Palestinian Policy Network, of "violating the code of conduct and anti-discrimination provisions".

On the same day, the European country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the above information.

Following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, Bern conducted an audit of six Palestinian and five Israeli NGOs. Eight of the 11 NGOs remained partners in the Swiss cooperation program in the Middle East.

Also on November 24, Turkey's Yeni Şafak newspaper quoted Ofir Gendelman, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, as saying that the country's army had "completed its tactical deployment along the temporary ceasefire line with the Hamas movement."

Spokesman Gendelman also said that before the ceasefire took effect, the Israeli army destroyed a large enemy tunnel in the Al-Shifa hospital area in Gaza.

A temporary ceasefire between the Israeli army and Hamas movement took effect from 7am on November 24 across the entire Gaza Strip. Accordingly, both sides will stop all attacks to conduct prisoner exchanges and transport relief goods.

Meanwhile, on November 24, Xinhua news agency quoted Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh as saying that the movement welcomes ongoing efforts to end Israel's siege of the Gaza Strip, promote prisoner exchanges, stop attacks on the Al-Aqsa mosque, and help Palestinians establish an independent state.

The statement came as Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh commented on the first humanitarian ceasefire since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on October 7.

Mr. Ismail Haniyeh also stressed that Hamas will not abandon its positions before, during and after the conflict, and rejects any outside interference in the management of Gaza.

In addition, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh also said that this force will comply with the ceasefire and the agreement to release hostages as long as Israel also complies with these agreements.

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