Watan-Confirmed sources indicate that an agreement has been reached between the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas and Israel, through intermediaries, to extend the humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and halt the hostilities for an additional day.
Sources quoted by “Al-Araby Al-Jadeed” affirmed that the ceasefire has been extended for an additional day so far, amid ongoing negotiations regarding a further extension.
Extending the humanitarian ceasefire for two additional days
The sources, who preferred not to disclose their identity, also indicated that Hamas informed the mediators that it now has a “ready batch to extend for an additional day.”
They explained that negotiations are ongoing regarding guarantees requested by the Palestinian resistance movement, related to the transfer of aid and fuel to hospitals in northern Gaza.
Meanwhile, Reuters quoted a senior Egyptian official on Monday as saying that Egypt and Qatar are nearing an agreement to extend the ceasefire between the occupation and Hamas in Gaza for two days.
تعلن دولة قطر أن في إطار الوساطة المستمرة تم التوصل إلى اتفاق لتمديد الهدنة الإنسانية ليومين إضافيين في قطاع غزة.
— د. ماجد محمد الأنصاري Dr. Majed Al Ansari (@majedalansari) November 27, 2023
Negotiations are ongoing regarding an extended ceasefire
According to Reuters, Diaa Rashwan, the head of the General Intelligence Service in Egypt, stated that the extension would include the release of 20 Israeli hostages among those captured by Hamas during its attack on October 7. He added that, in return, 60 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons would be released.
Majed Al-Ansari, the spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed hope that the ceasefire would be extended beyond the initially agreed-upon four days. Al-Ansari stated in an interview with CNN, “What we hope for is that the momentum achieved by the release operations over the past two days and the four-day agreement (ceasefire) will allow an extension of the ceasefire… and then enter into more serious discussions about the remaining hostages.”
He continued to work with senior officials in Qatar to address concerns from both Hamas and the Israeli military regarding the implementation of the prisoner exchange agreement.
Reuters also reported earlier that Egyptian, Qatari, and American negotiators are nearing an agreement to extend the ceasefire, scheduled to end on Monday, but are still discussing the duration of the extension and the names of the prisoners to be released.
According to sources, Hamas seeks a four-day extension of the ceasefire, while Israel prefers a day-to-day extension, with negotiations ongoing regarding the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Sources pointed out that the mediators are working to resolve the disagreement over the list of Israeli prisoners that Hamas will release.
On Sunday, a Qatari diplomatic delegation arrived in Gaza to oversee the entry and delivery of Qatari aid to the besieged region.