US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby speaks during the daily briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on November 8, 2023.
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby confirms that another 20 Israeli women and children will be released during the two-day extension of the ongoing truce between Israel and Hamas.
The deal was structured in a way where Israel would agree to extend the truce by an additional day for every 10 hostages released by Hamas.
Kirby says that there was a hold-up with today’s release because Hamas initially sought to release several children without their mothers, who are also being held in Gaza.
He adds he does not know if the 11 hostages being released today include the remaining two female US citizens being held in Gaza. There are six other male hostages who are US citizens and one male US Green Card holder.
Kirby adds that the US “would… hope to see the pause extended further, but reiterates that this will depend on Hamas releasing additional hostages.
Kirby notes that for the third day in a row, 200 aid trucks entered Gaza yesterday, meeting a key clause of the truce. This brings the total number of aid trucks that have entered Gaza since the Rafah Crossing was opened on October 21 to over 2,000.