The Israeli Prime Minister’s office announced that two Russian-Israeli citizens — Elena Trupanov, 50, and Irina Teti, 73 — were released from captivity in Gaza on Wednesday, as pressure builds for Israel and Hamas to extend the current pause in fighting. The pause is set to expire Thursday, but Israel expects a further extension of “another two to three days,” an Israeli official told The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations. The Biden administration wants Israel to extend the pause, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday ahead of a trip to Israel and the West Bank. But the Israeli official said the pause will not “lead to a permanent cease-fire,” adding that the “goal of removing Hamas from its rule in Gaza” remains critical for Israel. Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the Israeli army’s chief of staff, has approved plans for “the continuation of the fighting” in Gaza after the pause, the Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday.
