Hamas says looking into possibility of extending truce agreement

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
26 Nov 2023 22:34

The US says it awaits the decision of Hamas on whether or not the truce agreement will be extended or not.

Palestinian prisoners released by "Israel" arrive by International Committee of the Red Cross bus to the West Bank town of al-Bireh on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023 (AP)

Hamas expressed its readiness to extend the existing truce to increase the number of liberated Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

In a statement, Hamas underscored that "the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas seeks to extend the truce after the 4-day period ends, through serious efforts to increase the number of those released from imprisonment as stipulated in the humanitarian ceasefire agreement."

This comes after AFP quoted a Hamas source as saying that the Resistance movement is prepared to extend the existing truce agreement for another two to four days.

"Hamas informed the mediators that the Resistance movements were willing to extend the current truce by two to four days," according to the source who added that "the Resistance believes it is possible to ensure the release of 20 to 40 Israeli prisoners."

Simultaneously, it has been reported that the US awaits a decision by Hamas on whether it would agree to extend the truce and release an additional 10 hostages every extra day that "Israel" refrain from Its aggression on the Gaza Strip.

'Call set' between Biden and Netanyahu says Sullivan

Israeli media reported that “Israeli officials are interested in extending the truce period with Hamas in Gaza.”

On his part, US National Security Advisor Jack Sullivan underscored that it is expected that US President Joe Biden will speak with the Israeli occupation's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in order to consider extending the truce.

"In fact, he has a call set for today with Prime Minister Netanyahu," Sullivan said.

Sullivan's statements come after the US President spoke with the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, about the truce, earlier last night.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that negotiators are hopeful that the temporary four-day truce in Gaza could be extended by up to four more days to ensure the release of at least 20 additional women and children captives, in addition to the initial batch of 50, said people familiar with the talks.

On its part, Reuters reported earlier, citing an informed Qatari official, that a Qatari delegation visited "Israel" on Saturday to discuss the possible extension of the four-day truce, which began on Friday.