Temporary ceasefire extended for two days in Gaza, Qatar announces

Israel and Hamas reached an agreement to extend a temporary ceasefire for two days in the Gaza Strip, a spokesperson for Qatar's Foreign Affairs Ministry said 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," ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said on X, formerly Twitter.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry also expressed hope that the truce would lead to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, which is unlikely as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to not stop fighting until Hamas is eliminated, while Hamas, the terrorist organization that controls the Gaza Strip government, has promised to commit more attacks similar to the one on Oct. 7 until Israel is annihilated.

The fighting has been ongoing since Oct. 7, when terrorists entered Israel and killed approximately 1,200 people and kidnapped 240 others. 

The truce has seen 39 kidnapped Israeli women and children released so far in exchange for 117 Palestinian prisoners convicted of or suspected of terrorism. Nine children and two mothers are expected to be released Monday. The truce was set to expire Tuesday morning.

Israel had previously said it would extend the cease-fire every day for 10 additional hostages who are released, and after Qatar announced its deal, Hamas confirmed the two-day extension is "under the same terms."

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