The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says the temporary ceasefire with Israel has been extended for two days.
Hamas said in a statement it agreed to the extension after talks with Qatar and Egypt. The conditions are the same as those of the initial agreement.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry had already released a statement as the mediator of the agreement, announcing the extension. Spokesman Majed al-Ansari said that “an agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian truce for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip.”
“The State of Qatar announces that, as part of the ongoing mediation, an agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian truce for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip.”
Meanwhile, Tehran has demanded an end to Israel’s brutal war on Gaza, stressing that the regime’s crimes must not be repeated again. During his weekly news briefing, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kan’ani said the Islamic Republic seeks a lasting and stable truce.
Hamas had said it wanted to prolong the ceasefire if the Israeli regime made serious efforts to release more Palestinian prisoners. Israel had also expressed willingness to proceed in return for the release of 50 more captives.
The temporary ceasefire took effect in Gaza on Friday, giving Palestinians in the besieged territory a brief respite from Israel’s 7-week brutal war.
Over the first three days of the truce, Hamas released a total of 58 captives in exchange for 117 Palestinian prisoners.
Meanwhile, humanitarian aid has been arriving in Gaza as part of the ceasefire deal. However, people are complaining about insufficient fuel and demand more aid.
The Qatari foreign ministry also said five planes of aid were headed to the Egyptian city of El-Arish, from where the assistance would be transferred to Gaza. The planes are carrying 156 tonnes of aid, including food, medical items and shelter supplies.
