Key takeaways:
- Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend a temporary cease-fire in the Gaza Strip for two additional days.
- The United States has urged Israel to avoid “significant further displacement” when its forces move south in the Gaza Strip.
- The United States sent the first of three humanitarian aid flights to Egypt overnight for transport into Gaza.
Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend a temporary cease-fire in the Gaza Strip for two additional days to allow for the release of more hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Israeli officials said they had approved a new list of Palestinian prisoners to be freed if Hamas makes good on its promise to release more hostages, and Israel had a list of names from Hamas of the hostages it planned to free later Tuesday.
The United States has urged Israel to avoid “significant further displacement” when its forces move south in the Gaza Strip. U.S. officials have said they are continuing to work for further extensions in the truce, and that they will keep pushing the parties to reach a more lasting agreement.
The United States sent the first of three humanitarian aid flights to Egypt overnight for transport into Gaza, including food, medical supplies and winter clothing. The aid is critically needed in Gaza, which has been devastated by Israeli airstrikes and tank fire.
One resident of Gaza told NBC News, “Truce or not, we still have no electricity, no water and none of life’s basic necessities.” The cease-fire extension is allowing more aid into Gaza, which is a step in the right direction. However, it remains to be seen if a more lasting agreement can be reached.
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