4-day truce between Hamas, Israel may be extended for additional 7 days

CAIRO – 26 November 2023: Chairman of the State Information Service Diaa Rashwan stated Saturday that the four-day truce, which started on Friday, may be extended for additional seven days given that Hamas would still be holding hostage 70 Israeli civilians.

Hamas had held captive 120 civilians in addition to 119 soldiers. On the other hand, Israel had been imprisoning around 5,000 Palestinians. Hence, the truce deal provided the release of 50 civilian Israelis in exchange for 150 Palestinians. The captives released by both sides are women and children aged below 19.

On the first day of the truce, Hamas released 24 in exchange for 39. On the second day, it released 13 in exchange for 42. On the third day, 13 Israelis and 39 Palestinians will be released. Further, the group released 18 Thai and Filipino workers.