Israel-Hamas truce enters fourth day, talks for extension
The truce between Israel and Hamas, which led to the release of hostages, prisoners and emergency aid in the Gaza Strip, is entering its fourth and final day, amid discussions for its extension, reports News.ro.
On Sunday night into Monday, the Palestinian Islamist armed movement said in a press release that it was "trying to extend the truce beyond the four days" with the aim of "increasing the number of released prisoners" as stipulated in the agreement. A source close to Hamas said the Palestinian movement had "informed the mediators" that it was in favor of an extension of "two to four days".
As of Friday, 39 hostages had been released under the deal - plus 24 hostages outside the deal, most of them Thais working in Israel - as well as 117 Palestinian prisoners, at a ratio of one hostage to three prisoners.
A provision of the agreement allows it to be expanded to release approximately ten hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip daily in exchange for the release of about thirty Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
We recall that Israel and Hamas agreed on a cease-fire in Gaza for at least four days, to allow the access of aid and to release at least 50 hostages captured by the militants in exchange for at least 150 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.
US President Joe Biden said on Sunday that his administration's goal is to extend the truce between the Gaza Strip and Israel, to continue the safe release of hostages and to get critical aid to civilians in the enclave.
