© Reuters. Launched Palestinian prisoner Khalil Zamareh kisses his mom as he’s obtained by his household exterior his home close to Hebron within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution, amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, November 27, 2023. REUTERS/Mussa
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By Bassam Masoud and Dan Williams
GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Mediator Qatar mentioned on Monday a deal had been reached to increase a truce between Israeli and Hamas forces in Gaza by two days, persevering with a pause in seven weeks of warfare that has killed 1000’s and laid waste to the Palestinian enclave.
“An agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian truce for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip,” a Qatari international ministry spokesperson mentioned in a publish on social media platform X.
Hamas additionally mentioned it had agreed a two-day extension to the truce with Qatar and Egypt, who’ve been facilitating oblique negotiations between the 2 sides. There was no speedy remark from Israel.
“An agreement has been reached with the brothers in Qatar and Egypt to extend the temporary humanitarian truce by two more days, with the same conditions as in the previous truce,” a Hamas official mentioned in a telephone name with Reuters.
Earlier than the statements, the top of Egypt’s State Info Service, Diaa Rashwan, had mentioned an extension settlement was shut and would come with the discharge of 20 Israeli hostages from amongst these seized by Hamas throughout its Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel. In alternate 60 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails could be freed, he mentioned.
The preliminary truce was because of finish on Monday night time.
With the discharge of 11 Israeli hostages anticipated on Monday, negotiations stay ongoing for the discharge of 33 Palestinians, Rashwan added.
The truce agreed final week was the primary halt in preventing within the seven weeks since Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 folks and taking about 240 hostages again into Gaza, in keeping with Israeli tallies.
In response to that assault, Israel has bombarded the enclave and mounted a floor offensive within the north. Some 14,800 Palestinians have been killed, Gaza well being authorities say, and tons of of 1000’s displaced.
Vast areas of the Hamas-ruled enclave have been flattened by Israeli air strikes and artillery bombardments, and a humanitarian disaster has unfolded as provides of meals, gas, ingesting water and medication run out.
On Sunday, Hamas freed 17 folks, together with a 4-year-old Israeli-American woman, bringing the full quantity the militant group has launched since Friday to 58, together with foreigners. Israel freed 39 teenage Palestinian prisoners on Sunday, taking the full variety of Palestinians freed underneath the truce to 117.
