Hamas, Israel agree to extend truce for 1 day

GAZA/JERUSALEM — Hamas and Israel struck a last-minute agreement on Thursday to extend their six-day cease-fire by one more day to allow negotiators to keep working on deals to swap hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners.

The truce has allowed much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza after much of the coastal territory of 2.3 million was reduced to wasteland by Israel's bombardment in response to a deadly rampage by Hamas militants on Oct 7.

According to a statement by Hamas, the truce, which was set to expire on Thursday morning, will be extended by an additional day.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed on Thursday morning that the cease-fire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip will be extended.

"The operational pause will continue in light of the mediators' efforts to continue the process of releasing the hostages and subject to the terms of the framework," read a short statement released by the IDF several minutes before the expiration of the current truce deal.

The conditions of the cease-fire, including the halt of hostilities and the entry of humanitarian aid, remain the same, according to a Qatar foreign ministry spokesperson. Qatar has been a key mediator between the warring sides, along with Egypt and the United States.

Hamas, which freed 16 hostages in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners on Wednesday, said in a statement the truce would continue for the seventh day, Reuters reported.

Since the truce began on Nov 24, 70 Israeli hostages have been freed in return for 210 Palestinian prisoners, Agence France-Presse reported. At least 24 foreigners have been freed outside the terms of the deal.

'Epic catastrophe'

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday the Gaza Strip was in the midst of an "epic humanitarian catastrophe", and he and others called for a cease-fire to replace the temporary truce.

Jordan will host a conference attended by the main UN, regional and international relief agencies on Thursday to coordinate aid to Gaza, official media said.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv earlier on Thursday, his third trip to the region since the conflict, to discuss extending the pause in fighting, humanitarian aid and the exchange of more hostages.

It came as at least five people, including two gunmen, were killed in a shooting attack in Jerusalem on Thursday morning, according to police and emergency services.

Two gunmen opened fire at a bus stop at the entrance to Jerusalem before being killed on the spot, Israel police said in a statement.

The attack occurred almost a year after the same bus stop witnessed a deadly bombing attack on Nov 23, 2022.

Agencies - Xinhua