Hamas and Israel agree to extend truce for two days

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a 48-hour extension of the truce, as confirmed by Qatar acting as a mediator.

The initial ceasefire, scheduled to last until Monday has now been extended, providing Palestinians with a temporary break from the ongoing genocide inflicted by Israeli occupation forces.

Although they continue to be targeted during this extension.

According to a spokesperson from the Qatari foreign ministry, "An agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian pause for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip." Hamas also confirmed its agreement to the two-day extension.

This truce serves as a brief respite for Palestinians who have endured continuous bombings, faced food shortages and grappled with severe healthcare challenges, resulting in excruciating injuries for men, women, and children.

During this fragile truce, Palestinians will be able to secure access to food and water, and reconnect with their relatives in the northern part of Gaza Strip, the worst affected region by Israeli war crimes. 

Al Jazeera reported that “witnesses in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City observed Israeli tanks firing smoke bombs and repositioning west of Gaza City.”

Rescuers have been busy recovering bodies trapped under the rubble of homes bombarded in Gaza City and the northern region.

Under an agreement agreed upon by Israel and Hamas since Friday, Israel has released 117 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, with an additional 33 expected to be released on Monday night.

Hamas reciprocated by releasing 11 Israeli hostages, all women and children abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on the fourth day of the cease-fire.

Several Israeli prisoners released earlier by Hamas are dual nationals.

Under the fragile truce, Palestinians found a moment of relief as they freely walked the streets of Gaza without the threat of Israeli missiles.

Families poured into the streets of the West Bank city of Ramallah on Monday night to welcome Palestinian prisoners and detainees released from Israeli custody.

It is crucial to note that despite the truce, Israel continued detaining Palestinians on flimsy charges and persisted its brutal attacks on civilian territories.