Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas agreed to increase the short-term cease-fire in Gaza by two days, a spokesperson for Qatar’s international ministry mentioned Monday.
“The State of Qatar pronounces, as a part of the continued mediation, an settlement has been reached to increase the humanitarian truce for a further two days within the Gaza Strip,” Majed Al Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s international ministry, mentioned on X, previously Twitter.
At a White Home press briefing on Monday, Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson John Kirby mentioned “we welcome the announcement” of the two-day extension and introduced the arrival of the “greatest humanitarian convoy” to Gaza for the reason that October 7 assault. On Saturday, 187 support vehicles had made it into Gaza, in keeping with the U.N., sending desperately wanted meals, water and gasoline to greater than 2 million Palestinians who’re underneath an Israeli authorities imposed “full siege” for the reason that Hamas assault.
Kirby mentioned fewer than 10 Americans are among the many remaining Hamas hostages. “We’re grateful we’ve acquired an additional two days to work with right here,” Kirby continued, including that “we’d definitely wish to see even that extension prolonged additional till all of the hostages are launched.”
But Kirby additionally underscored the dangers related to the humanitarian pause. Kirby acknowledged that there was a “actual danger” {that a} pause in combating may benefit Hamas’ capabilities. Beneath a earlier deal struck final week and brokered by Qatar — along with the USA and Egypt — Israel and Hamas had agreed to halt hostilities in Gaza.
“I might simply say that, with out moving into intelligence issues, that any pause within the combating may benefit your enemy, by way of time to refit, to relaxation your fighters, to rearm them, re-equip them,” Kirby famous.
The settlement, which included the discharge of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in addition to dozens of Palestinians in Israeli detention, was set to run out on Tuesday, at 7 a.m. native time (6 a.m. CET).