Hamas announced this morning that it had agreed to extend the truce with Israel for the seventh day in a row, while the Israeli army earlier said the truce with Hamas would be extended to allow mediators to work on the release of hostages from the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the ceasefire in Gaza would resume today, following the recent receipt of a list of 10 women and children hostages who are ready to be released from Gaza and who comply with agreed ceasefire rules.
Qatar's foreign ministry confirmed a one-day extension of the truce between Israel and Hamas, saying it would be on the same terms as the previous six days, when Hamas released at least 10 hostages in exchange for at least 30 Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel.
The Israeli military said on Thursday that the ceasefire with Hamas would continue "as part of the mediator's efforts to continue the process of releasing the hostages, as well as in accordance with the agreement".
Earlier, Hamas said it had released 16 hostages in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners on Wednesday, claiming that "Israel refused to accept seven more women and children" as well as the bodies of three hostages, in exchange for an extension of the truce.
The ceasefire was supposed to expire at 06.00:XNUMX CET, and it started last Friday.
In the night between Wednesday and Thursday, 16 hostages from the Gaza Strip were released, as well as 30 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that after the end of the truce, Israel will continue the offensive on the Gaza Strip, which aims to destroy Hamas.
"The main goals are to eliminate the terrorist group that rules Gaza and to return home all the hostages kidnapped on October 7," Netanyahu said in a video address.
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