The ceasefire has been extended for two more days

Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend the truce by two more days, the New York Times (NYT) reported, citing Qatari officials who helped negotiate the initial four-day ceasefire.

Majed Al-Ansari, a spokesman for the foreign ministry of Qatar, the country that brokered the talks that led to the initial pause in the fighting, said "an agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian ceasefire for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip." Al Ansari specified the terms of the new dovor, according to the NYT.

The French agency AFP reports that Hamas has confirmed that the ceasefire will be extended until Thursday at seven o'clock local time, and that Israel has not yet announced the extension of the truce.

Qatar, with the help of the United States, also brokered the first cease-fire agreement that came into effect on Friday, and provided for the release of 50 of the approximately 240 hostages taken by Hamas in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners from prisons in Israel.