Israel Says Ceasefire With Hamas to Continue
GAZA: Israel’s military said on Thursday that a truce with Hamas will continue “in light of the mediators’ efforts to continue the process of releasing hostages, and subject to the terms of the agreement”.
Hamas has agreed to extend the truce for a seventh day, according to local media sources.
The six-day halt to fighting in Gaza was set to end at 7am local time on Thursday, and follows the release of a group of 16 Hamas-held hostages on Wednesday night in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners.
On Wednesday, the Israel Prison Service has said it released 30 Palestinians from Israeli jails late on Tuesday in a fifth swap under a truce deal with Gaza’s Hamas militants.
In a statement, the prison service said the 30 Palestinians were released from Ofer Prison, near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, and from a detention centre in Jerusalem.
Qatar earlier said 15 women and 15 children would be released.
Hamas has agreed to extend the truce for a seventh day, according to local media sources.
The six-day halt to fighting in Gaza was set to end at 7am local time on Thursday, and follows the release of a group of 16 Hamas-held hostages on Wednesday night in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners.
- Reporting by agencies