In a bid to extend the current truce in Gaza and secure the release of more hostages held by Hamas, the CIA director, William Burns, and the head of the Mossad, David Barnea, have flown to Qatar for talks with the Qatari leadership. The discussions aim to persuade Hamas to release the remaining hostages, focusing particularly on the release of adult male captives.

The ceasefire, initially set for four days, was implemented to facilitate the release of 50 hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. On Monday, an agreement was reached to extend the truce for an additional two days, until Wednesday, with Hamas committing to release 10 hostages per day.

The recent exchange of hostages between Gaza and Israel appeared to be going smoothly, as hostages started leaving Gaza on Tuesday night. So far, all those released have been women and children. However, in order to prolong the truce, Hamas will need to begin releasing adult male hostages, as the group views all Israeli men as potential soldiers.

An additional complication for Israel is that the remains of three soldiers killed on 7 October are currently held by Hamas in Gaza. Historically, Israel has placed equal importance on recovering the remains of their fallen soldiers, alongside securing the release of living hostages.

During the talks in Doha, attended by Egyptian officials as well, discussions will revolve around potential terms for extending the truce beyond the two-day extension. Israeli politicians and military officials have stated their intention to resume military operations in Gaza, particularly in the southern part of the strip where approximately 2 million people reside.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, affirming Israel's commitment to its objectives, stated during a visit to an IDF intelligence unit that their mission included freeing all hostages, dismantling Hamas both above and below ground, and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel. He accused Hamas once again of using civilians as human shields, claiming that the residents in Gaza were protecting the terrorists embedded within their midst.

Reports suggest that Netanyahu is reluctant to extend the ceasefire beyond 10 days, the maximum period stated in the original agreement. So far, 74 hostages have been released, comprising 50 women and children, according to the Israeli leader.

The IDF chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, confirmed on Tuesday that preparations are underway for the continuation of the operation to dismantle Hamas. The IDF's plan is to target Khan Younis, where Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is believed to be based.

Amidst these developments, humanitarian organizations have issued warnings about the dire consequences that intense fighting in southern Gaza could unleash. Oxfam's policy lead, Bushra Khalidi, highlighted the potential for unprecedented levels of casualties and expressed concern over Israel's stated intentions to continue operations in the south.

Within Israel, there is a growing concern about waning patience in Washington. Officials voice their apprehension, noting that the "window of legitimacy" may be closing.

The US administration has made it clear to Israel that it cannot conduct military operations in the south in the same manner as in the north, emphasizing the need for discretion and caution. The US called for minimal displacement of individuals and proposed the establishment of "areas of deconfliction" where Palestinians could seek refuge, should their districts become targets of military operations.

The Biden administration has shown its support by ensuring the daily transit of aid trucks into Gaza and announcing a series of US military transport flights to bring humanitarian goods to replenish depots around the Egyptian town of Arish.

The expected military campaign by the IDF in southern Gaza is set to test US-Israeli relations, shedding light on Washington's leverage over the Netanyahu government. President Biden's comments about putting conditions on aid to Israel have been interpreted as a warning message, indicating that American preferences and tools could be used to enforce greater sensitivity to their advice.

As the talks in Qatar continue, the fate of the Gaza truce and the release of hostages remains uncertain, while the Israeli government faces mounting pressure from both domestic and international actors to navigate this critical situation with caution and compassion.