In a positive development, the humanitarian pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas has been extended by two days, according to mediator Qatar and Hamas. This extension comes just hours before the initial four-day truce was set to expire. The State of Qatar announced the extension, stating that an agreement had been reached to prolong the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The United States, Egypt, and Qatar have been engaged in negotiations to establish and extend the truce, with the aim of broadening its scope and increasing humanitarian aid.

BREAKING: QATARI FOREIGN MINISTER OFFICIAL STATEMENT

“We confirm the continued intensification of efforts with the aim of reaching a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip

Hamas released 69 prisoners, and Israel released 150 women and children prisoners during the four days of… pic.twitter.com/AeBBnLBgU9

— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) November 27, 2023

During the initial truce, it was expected that Hamas would release 50 civilian captives, all of whom were women and children. In return, Israel would release 150 Palestinian prisoners and allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza. Additionally, Hamas released 39 Israeli captives in exchange for 117 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. These negotiations also led to the release of 17 Thai citizens, one Filipino, and one dual Russian-Israeli national by Hamas. Ghazi Hamad, a Hamas official, expressed hope for further extensions of the truce. He stated that if Hamas releases more hostages, there could be additional days added to the ceasefire.

Hamad emphasized the support from Qatar, Egypt, and Western governments in ending the ongoing conflict and bringing relief to the people of Gaza. The announcement of the extension brings relief to families across the occupied Palestinian territories, who have been watching in horror as the conflict unfolds in Gaza. The White House welcomed the extension of the truce, expressing hope that Americans held captive would be among those released in the next phase of exchanges. Currently, it is believed that eight to nine US citizens are still being held.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also hailed the extension as a "glimpse of hope and humanity," but warned that it was not enough time to meet the urgent aid needs of Palestinians in Gaza. Guterres urged for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas. While the extension is a positive step, it is crucial to continue negotiations to transform the temporary truce into a full humanitarian ceasefire.

The United Nations will continue to support these efforts to increase humanitarian aid and ensure its distribution to the people of Gaza. The aid delivered during the truce has provided some relief, but it is clear that the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is worsening with each passing day. The United Nations calls for the international community's support in addressing the immense needs of the 1.7 million displaced people in Gaza.