Qatar: Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Extended for Two More Days

Qatar announced on Monday that the ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza has been extended for two more days. Qatar plays a mediating role in the ceasefire negotiations. Qatar and Egypt are facilitating indirect talks between the two conflicting parties. Seven weeks of war between Israel and Hamas have killed thousands and devastated Gaza. A spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry stated on social media platform X, "An agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian ceasefire for two days in the Gaza Strip." According to Reuters, no immediate statement has been released by Israel, but a White House official confirmed that the agreement has been reached. Hamas also stated that it agreed to the two-day extension of the ceasefire. None of the statements specified how many hostages would be released. However, a senior Egyptian government official previously mentioned that the agreement being negotiated includes the release of 20 Israeli hostages in exchange for 60 Palestinian prisoners in Israel. The Egyptian official noted that negotiations for the release of 33 Palestinian prisoners are ongoing, considering the anticipated release of 11 Israeli hostages on Monday. The initial four-day ceasefire was supposed to end on Monday night. Following Hamas's attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the hostage-taking of about 240 by Palestinian militants, Israel launched an offensive aimed at destroying Hamas in Gaza. Israel maintains that its goal remains the destruction of Hamas. Officials in the Gaza region, controlled by Hamas, report that approximately 14,800 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced. Israel claims that Hamas hides behind civilians and uses them as human shields. Vast areas of the Hamas-controlled region have been flattened due to Israeli air and artillery strikes, leading to a humanitarian crisis with dwindling supplies of food, fuel, drinking water, and medicine. The ceasefire agreement allows aid trucks to enter Gaza. On Sunday, Hamas released 17 individuals, including a 4-year-old Israeli-American girl, bringing the total number of hostages released to 58, which includes foreigners. On the same day, Israel released 39 Palestinian teenage prisoners, raising the total number of released Palestinians to 117. Under the current agreement, Hamas is set to release a total of 50 Israeli women and children it has taken hostage in Gaza. There is no limit on the number of foreigners held by Hamas that can be released in this deal. An Israeli government spokesperson stated that the total number of hostages still held in Gaza as of Monday is 184, including 14 foreigners and 80 dual nationals. Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by various countries. According to Haaretz, citing the Wall Street Journal, Hamas began the process of handing over some hostages to the Red Cross on Monday.