The representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar announced the temporary extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas for two days, according to Reuters.

The statement says that an agreement was reached to extend the humanitarian ceasefire for two more days in the Gaza Strip, news which was also confirmed by the White House.

Israeli hostages were released by Hamas during the fourth night of the temporary ceasefire. A number of them were taken directly to hospitals in Tel Aviv. In total, eleven people with dual citizenship of France, Germany or Argentina were released on Monday night. Three-year-old twins are among the hostages released. Over the next two days, Hamas pledged to release another 20 women and children as the four-day ceasefire was extended for another two days.

However, hopes that the ceasefire could stay in force appear unrealistic with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, insisting the war is not over.

In exchange for the Israeli hostages, 33 Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons after midnight. Most of them were women and minors.

Also read: Israel – Hamas | Agreement on ceasefire and exchange of hostages

Additional trucks entered the Gaza Strip on Monday carrying food, fuel, and medicine distributed by humanitarian organizations. Yet workers say that it’s a drop in the ocean and hundreds of truckloads are still needed.

The destruction of wells is causing a major crisis in the Gaza Strip – 50% are unusable and not enough water is being pumped into the area.

Hamas attacks on October 7 killed 1,200 people and took about 240 hostages. Since then, Hamas-run Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 14,500 people have been killed in Israel’s retaliation campaign.

The French helicopter carrier Dixmude, which has been configured to provide hospital support to the wounded from the Gaza Strip, has arrived at the port of Al Arish, Egypt.

The war between Israel and Hamas has put many hospitals in northern Gaza out of service, and those in the south, although overcrowded, are still receiving wounded people. The French floating hospital has two operating rooms and approximately 60 hospital beds.

Also read: Turkey | International peace convoy to Gaza