Qatar, Egypt, US, EU, Spain working to extend truce in Gaza: PA
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The Palestinian Authority's foreign minister states that Qatar, Egypt, the US, the EU, and Spain are actively working to extend the temporary truce in the Gaza Strip.
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Palestinians visit the beach in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, on the second day of a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (AP)
Qatar, Egypt, the United States, the European Union, and Spain are actively working to extend the temporary truce between "Israel" and the Palestinian Resistance in the Gaza Strip, as stated by the Palestinian Authority's foreign minister on Monday.
Advocating for a sustainable ceasefire to prevent a rise in casualties, Riyad Al-Maliki suggested that the ongoing truce might be prolonged for "one, two, three days." However, he added that the exact duration remained uncertain.
Al-Maliki addressed a news conference alongside Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares during the Forum for the Union of the Mediterranean in Barcelona.
Four-day truce comes into effect
The temporary truce between the Israeli occupation and the Resistance in Gaza came into effect at 7 am on Friday, November 24, following an Israeli aggression that has persisted for 47 days, leaving thousands injured and killed.
The agreement was for the truce to last four days, entailing the liberation of several imprisoned Palestinian women and minors (under the age of 19) from Israeli occupation jails and the admission of relief aid and fuel in the besieged Gaza Strip.
In the last hours before the truce came into effect, the Israeli occupation launched intense airstrikes against the northern, central, and southern Gaza Strip, targeting schools (that housed displaced individuals), hospitals, and houses, resulting in dozens of casualties.
Truce was postponed
The agreement reached through Qatari and Egyptian mediation efforts was scheduled for effect on November 23. However, Israeli media outlets reported a day before that the deal was not finalized and is likely to start on November 24 instead.
The limited truce was criticized by international organizations, human rights activists, and several countries and officials calling for an immediate ceasefire rather than an insufficient truce. But these calls have been rejected by both the United States and the Israeli occupation entity, stressing that the aggression must continue until all "Tel Aviv's" objectives are fulfilled, something which military experts and diplomats expressed extreme doubts over.
Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant stated on November 23 that the upcoming humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip between "Israel" and the Palestinian resistance is expected to be brief and will be followed by approximately two more months of conflict.
"This will be a short respite after which the fighting will resume with intensity and pressure to bring back more hostages. At least two more months of fighting are expected," Gallant was quoted as telling the troops of a navy's commando unit by the I24News broadcaster.
Gallant's remarks came right after the IOF conducted another massacre at the Jabalia refugee camp, shortly before a temporary ceasefire was due to begin.
