Israel and Hamas have embarked on a two-day extension to a truce that will allow Israeli hostages to be freed from Gaza in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Mediator Qatar and Palestinian militant group Hamas confirmed the extension and Israeli media on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.
The 7:00 a.m. (0500 GMT) deadline for the previous pause in fighting passed without incident, and 11 more Israeli hostages were freed from Gaza overnight.
In response, Israel released another 33 Palestinian prisoners, marking the last exchange under the initial deal.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed optimism, calling it “a glimpse of hope and humanity in the middle of the darkness of war.”
The truce had temporarily halted the fighting that started on October 7, 2023, initiated by Hamas militants crossing the border into Israel, resulting in 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, and dozens of kidnappings.
Israel’s retaliatory ground and air operations in Gaza led to the deaths of nearly 15,000 people, predominantly civilians, according to the territory’s Hamas government.
Despite the truce extension, Israel remains committed to its war aim of destroying Hamas and rescuing all 240 hostages held in the war zone.
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