There are speculations that the truce between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip could be extended by two days, the Palestinian group and mediator Qatar said Monday, giving room for further releases of hostages and prisoners.
The initial arrangements would end on Tuesday Monday, but Hamas said that an agreement had been reached to prolong it by 48 hours under the existing terms.
However, there was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli side of the extension, which was nevertheless hailed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as “a glimpse of hope and humanity in the middle of the darkness of war”.
Qatar — with the support of the United States and Egypt — has been engaged in intense negotiations to establish and prolong the truce in Gaza.
Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari announced that “an agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian truce for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip.”
Hamas, which runs Gaza and triggered the war when its militants made an unprecedented attack on southern Israel last month, said it was drawing up a new list of hostages for release.
Late Monday, on the last day of the initial four-day truce, Israel’s military said 11 hostages were “now in Israeli territory”.
Qatar said the 11 Israelis would be freed in exchange for 33 Palestinian prisoners, most of whom it said are minors.
The freed Israelis are dual nationals of France, Germany and Argentina, Qatar added.