11 hostages return to Israel, military says

Eleven hostages have arrived in Israel after their release from Gaza on Monday, the Israeli military announced, according to Reuters.

Earlier on Monday, Qatar announced the extension of a temporary pause in the fighting in Gaza. Israel previously stated it would agree to an additional day of the ceasefire in exchange for the release of 10 hostages. Nine children and two women were expected to be released on Monday.

"The State of Qatar announces that, as part of the ongoing mediation, an agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian truce for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip," Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al Ansari said.

Israeli forces entered the Gaza Strip following an Oct. 7 Hamas raid that saw its forces storm Israeli border towns, seize roughly 240 hostages, and kill 1,200 civilians. Israel has repeatedly stressed that its agreement to a temporary truce in exchange for the release of hostages does not signal a willingness to agree to a permanent peace.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.