Monday, November 27, 2023

Congratulations to all parties.

Such a small country with mighty influence and trust.

Qatar must garner a great deal of respect to continue to carry such good news forward. It is magnificent. The world is watching and all faiths are praying this will move into a lasting truce whereby Israel will have security, and the Palestinian people will have a way of life that is also secure without the threat of underground tunnels and explosives in the basements of hospitals. 

The world wants this truce. It would be a major achievement for Israel to secure Gaza for the Palestinian people as well as their own national security. That is what would be the best outcome for all these people. 

I congratulate Qatar for it's incredible achievement to date. It is already a significant achievement in diplomacy already, but, to realize this is extended two more days with the potential to end this war is more than anyone thought possible. Israel has said if the hostages keep coming they would continue to honor the truce. This has a real potential for peace and national security for Israel was well as the Palestinian people.

Fill the tunnels with concrete and never let them be used again.

Abigail Edan will grow up knowing how her parents died. The people of Palestine will also know how many are dead and why. This war started because of hatred. There needs to be an end to any and all hatred. It has to stop. The two nations of people must find a lasting peace. If they both can build security for the future anything is possible. The region needs stability and the price for that stability has been paid in blood. The hatred must stop. Those that have died can be the heroes that bring about the end of hatred. The young people at the festival did not know hatred, they longed for a peace between these two nations of people. Honor their memories in the spirit they would intend.

November 27, 2023
By Tia Goldenberg, Jack Jeffery and Samy Magdy

Tel Aviv, Israel (AP) — Israel and Hamas (click here) agreed to extend their cease-fire for two more days past Monday, the Qatari government said, raising the prospect of a longer halt to their deadliest and most destructive war and further exchanges of militant-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

The announcement, made by Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Al Ansary in a post on X, came on the final day of the original four-day truce between the warring sides. The Israeli military said Monday evening that 11 hostages were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza and were on their way to Israeli territory, marking the start of the fourth swap under the original truce.

Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released. After the announcement by Qatar — a key mediator in the conflict, along with the United States and Egypt — Hamas confirmed it had agreed to a two-day extension “under the same terms.”...