Hamas officials have blamed Israel for the collapse of the cease-fire on Dec. 1, saying the women hostages Israel expected to be released were soldiers and not part of the original cease-fire agreement. Remaining civilian female hostages are held by other militant groups in Gaza and are outside its control, Hamas officials have told negotiators. The Israeli military said its operations continued overnight in Gaza City and Jabalia, a fiercely contested neighborhood in the north. Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza say their government isn’t doing enough to rescue those held by Hamas and that time is running out to repatriate their relatives who are still alive. “It seems like President Biden is doing more to return the hostages than the government of Israel.

Source: Wall Street Journal December 17, 2023 00:17 UTC