The New Arab : Gaza war -Day Long extension of Israel - Hamas truce agreed 30 November 2023

 Gaza war: Day-long extension of Israel-Hamas truce agreed

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The New Arab Staff & Agencies

30 November, 2023

 Israel and Hamas was extended on Thursday just before it was due to expire, the two sides announced, with mediator Qatar reporting it would continue for one day under the same conditions that saw hostages exchanged.

Minutes before the halt in fighting in the Gaza Strip was due to expire at 05:00 GMT, Israel's military said the truce would be prolonged.

"In light of the mediators' efforts to continue the process of releasing the hostages and subject to the terms of the framework, the operational pause will continue," it said.

The prime minister's office subsequently confirmed the extension, saying it had received a new list of hostages.

"A short time ago, Israel was given a list of women and children in accordance with the terms of the agreement, and therefore the truce will continue," it said, without specifying the number of captives to be freed.

Hamas said there was an agreement to "extend the truce for a seventh day", without further details. It had earlier said Israel initially refused to extend the truce after it offered to hand over seven hostages and the bodies of three more.

Qatar, which has led the truce negotiations supported by Egypt and the United States, confirmed the pause had been extended for a day "under the same previous conditions".

The announcement came hours after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Wednesday night, and with growing pressure for an extension of the pause.

The truce agreement has brought a temporary halt to fighting in Gaza, where authorities say almost 15,000 people have been killed in Israel's military campaign. Israeli authorities say some 1,200 people were killed and around 240 taken hostage in Hamas's surprise 7 October attack inside Israel.

The truce agreement allows for extensions if Hamas can release another 10 hostages a day, but earlier both sides warned they were ready to return to fighting.

Featured images: Getty