BEIT HANOUN, GAZA - NOVEMBER 27: An aerial view of Burj al-Nada and Burj al-Awda buildings destroyed due to Israeli attacks on the fourth day of the humanitarian pause between Israel and Hamas in Beit Hanoun, Gaza on November 27, 2023. (Photo by Fadi Alwhidi/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The temporary Israel-Hamas truce will be extended for another two days, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
The announcement comes on the final day of a four-day truce between the warring sides. The Israeli military said Monday evening that 11 hostages were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza and were on their way to Israeli territory, marking the start of the fourth swap under the original truce.
The release came hours after Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend their truce.
Israel has said it would extend the ceasefire by one day for every ten additional hostages released. After the announcement by Qatar — a key mediator in the conflict, along with the United States and Egypt — Hamas confirmed it had agreed to a two-day extension “under the same terms.”
Of the roughly 240 hostages captured by Hamas in its Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel that ignited the war, 62 have been released. Israeli forces freed one, and two were found dead inside Gaza.
Israel is set to release 33 Palestinian prisoners later Monday.
With the truce deal has come increased shipments of fuel and supplies into Gaza — although aid groups say it’s still barely enough to dent the needs of the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza who have endured weeks of Israeli siege and bombardment.
More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, roughly two-thirds of them women and minors, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will press ahead with the war after the ceasefire expires. Some 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, mainly during the initial incursion by Hamas. At least 77 soldiers have been killed in Israel’s ground offensive.
Additionally, Israeli officials reportedly said around 200 container trucks brought humanitarian aid into Gaza on Monday after being inspected by Israel. Some resources included “a small amount of fuel,” per the Israeli military body that handles civilian affairs.
“Four containers carrying diesel fuel and four containers carrying cooking gas were transferred from Egypt to U.N. humanitarian aid organizations in the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing,” COGAT said in a statement.
The aid trucks brought “food, water, shelter equipment, and medical supplies,” the statement said.
Associated Press’ live updates here contributed to this report in addition to TSR Staff.
