The humanitarian pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas will be extended by two days, Qatar announced as the initial four-day truce in Gaza expired.
"Qatar announces that within the framework of the ongoing mediation, an agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian ceasefire for two more days in the Gaza Strip," Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majid Al Ansari said in X.
Hamas confirmed that a two-day extension of the ceasefire with Israel and the related release of hostages and prisoners had been agreed.
"Hamas announces that an agreement has been reached with the brothers in Qatar and Egypt to extend the temporary humanitarian pause for two more days under the same conditions as the previous ceasefire," the statement said.
In the course of the initial truce, Hamas was expected to release a total of 50 civilian hostages, women and children.
In return, 150 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel were to be released and humanitarian aid was to be allowed into Gaza.
During the first three days of the ceasefire, the militant group released 39 Israeli hostages in exchange for 117 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails as part of the agreement. /BGNES
