The temporary truce in Gaza between Israel and Hamas has been extended by two days, Qatar and Hamas have said.

A White House official has also told NBC News – the US partner of Sky News – that an agreement has been reached to extend the ceasefire.

The temporary truce was initially due to end at 5am UK time on Tuesday 28 November.

However, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry of Qatar – which has been involved in mediating the temporary truce – said it would last an “additional two days”.

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In a post on X, formerly Twitter, spokesperson Dr Majed al Ansari wrote: “The State of Qatar announces, as part of the ongoing mediation, an agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian truce for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip.”

Hamas has also confirmed the truce, while Israel has yet to comment.

“The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas announces that it has been agreed with the brothers in Qatar and Egypt to extend the temporary humanitarian truce for an additional two days under the same conditions as the previous truce,” a Hamas statement read.

Diplomatic developments are positive – but continuation of fighting still looks most likely

Dominic Waghorn

International Affairs Editor

@DominicWaghorn

The extension of the truce between Israel and Hamas, by another two days, is further proof that mediation channels through Egypt and Qatar, with support from the US, are working.

The process of release, over the past four days, has been proven. Although neither side trusts the other, that will have built a degree of confidence.

Both sides have their own reasons to agree an extension: Israel will get more of its hostages back home and Hamas has more time to regroup after the seven weeks of intense bombardment and military ground operations.

Hamas is also being credited in the West Bank for securing the release of Palestinian prisoners. That political windfall is not to be under-estimated.

Nevertheless, there will come a point when all the women, children and elderly have been released and then Hamas is unlikely to free young Israeli men, or IDF soldiers, without demanding a much larger price from Israel.

We understand that Israel is not ready to entertain a prolonged ceasefire, although such is the intensity of negotiations behind-the-scenes, that could yet change.

Even if Israel were to get all the hostages back, as unlikely as that might currently seem, they still wouldn’t have achieved their objective of eliminating Hamas’s leadership.

And so, despite the positive developments, a continuation of the fighting still looks like the most likely eventuality – it would take considerable diplomatic efforts to persuade Israel to change course.

Hamas had been pushing for an extension to the temporary ceasefire if “serious efforts” were made to increase the number of Palestinian prisoners released by Israel.

Under the terms of the current deal, Hamas has agreed to release a total of 50 hostages, while Israel will release 150 Palestinian detainees over four days.

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Israel previously said the deal allows for the truce to be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed.

Earlier, Diaa Rashwan, the head of the State Information Service of Egypt, which has also been involved in mediation, said an extension deal would include the release of 20 Israeli hostages and 60 Palestinian prisoners.

Released Palestinian prisoners react from inside a vehicle after leaving the Israeli military prison, Ofer, amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank November 26, 2023. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
Image:
Palestinians celebrate the release of Palestinian detainees as part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal

He added that 11 Israeli hostages are expected to be released today, but negotiations are ongoing for the freedom of 33 Palestinian detainees.

So far, 117 Palestinian prisoners have been freed by Israel, while 40 Israeli hostages have been released in exchange.

As part of a separate deal, 17 Thai and one Filipino national have been released by Hamas.

The temporary truce has also allowed for humanitarian aid to enter into Gaza.

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Thai hostages arrive at Shamir Medical Centre

A spokesman for the head of the UN said he hoped to see the temporary truce turn into a full humanitarian ceasefire.

“The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is getting worse by the day,” Stephane Dujarric said on behalf of UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.

“The dialogue that led to the agreement must continue, resulting in a full humanitarian ceasefire, for the benefit of the people of Gaza, Israel and the wider region.”