GAZA CITY: Israel and Hamas have agreed on Thursday to extend their ceasefire in Gaza for one more day.
The initial four-day truce in Gaza was earlier extended to two days and the deadline was due-to expire today, however, at the last minute both parties agreed to extend the true for another day.
The extension in the ceasefire comes amidst ongoing talks between the parties involved in the conflict.
According to reports any further renewal of the deal that has witnessed the release of dozens of captives from both sides could prove more challenging.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on his third visit to the region since the start of the conflict, is expected to press for further extensions of the truce and the release of more captives.
Gaza has witnessed some of the most intense Israeli bombardment, leading to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian people. After more than 50 days of continuous Israeli bombardment, nearly 15,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 30,000 wounded.
So far, most Palestinians freed have been teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli occupation forces.
By Wednesday a total of 73 Israelis, including dual nationals, have been released during the six-day ceasefire. Another 24 hostages, 23 Thais and one Filipino have also been freed.
EU advocates for extension of truce
The European Union’s foreign policy chief had also advocated for an extension of the truce, emphasizing the importance of making it long-lasting to facilitate progress towards a political solution in the region.
Earlier, Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari stated, that 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.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, urged for a stable form of truce to prevent a recurrence of what he referred to as the “cruel aggression” of the Israeli regime against Gaza. Kanaani expressed Iran’s expectation that the truce extension would completely halt the “crimes” committed by Israel against the Palestinian people.
The Israeli air and ground strikes have also caused extensive damage to buildings, including hospitals, mosques, and churches. The dire situation in Gaza is compounded by an Israeli blockade, severing the region from essential supplies such as fuel, electricity, and water. Aid deliveries to Gaza have also reached to a minimum.
Meanwhile, a Hamas senior official invited US billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday to visit the Gaza strip to see the level of destruction caused by the Israeli brutal bombardment.
