Geoff Bennett:

And in the West Bank, Palestinian health officials said Israeli troops killed two young boys during a raid in Jenin. They were identified as Adam Samer Al-Ghoul, who was 8 years old, and Basil Suleiman Abu Al-Wafa, who was 15. The Israeli military did not confirm the shooting, but it did say troops killed two Islamic Jihad militants in a separate incident.

Let's turn now to Aaron David Miller, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a longtime State Department official in both Democratic and Republican administrations.

Thanks for being with us.

As we reported, talks are ongoing to extend the pause in fighting to allow for the release of more hostages and Palestinians held by Israel. At this point, what are the prospects for another extension and what might it yield?

Aaron David Miller, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: I think, from the Israeli perspective, the Netanyahu government has no choice but to play Hamas' cruel game.

If, in fact, Hamas has additional women and children, perhaps a number in the vicinity of 20, I think the Israelis are perfectly prepared to continue the hostage-for-prison release. And diplomats, Americans, Qataris, Egyptians are still working, perhaps, on a broader set of exchanges that could involve adult males and females, reserve military, and active-duty military that Hamas is holding.

So I think it serves the interests right now both Hamas and Israel, if, in fact, you can create a predictable and reliable channel in coming days to continue the hostage-for-prisoner exchange. At some point, the string's going to be played out, however. There's no doubt about it.

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