Tuesday Briefing: A Deal to Extend the Gaza Truce

Qatar says Israel and Hamas will extend the truce Israel and Hamas agreed yesterday to extend their fragile truce for two more days , according to officials in Qatar who helped negotiate the initial cease-fire.

The deal could allow for additional aid to flow into Gaza and the release of more hostages, prisoners and detainees than initially expected. The extension comes as the four-day truce, set to expire today. Israeli officials signaled that a fourth exchange of hostages and prisoners, the final round of the initial agreement, would proceed.

Here’s the latest.

The head of the State Information Service in Egypt, which is also mediating the talks between Israel and Hamas, said yesterday that a two-day extension would include the daily release of 10 women and children being held hostage in Gaza in exchange for 30 Palestinian detainees being held in Israeli prisons.

The renewed agreement would also prolong a pause in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip that has killed at least 13,000 people and created a humanitarian disaster for its 2.2 million residents.