Israel and Hamas Agree to Extend Temporary Ceasefire for 24 Hours, Allowing Palestinians to Return Home and Bake Bread by Destroyed Homes in Gaza Strip

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend a temporary truce for another 24 hours, according to Qatar, which has been mediating between the two sides.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry said the truce was being extended under the same terms as in the past, under which Hamas has released 10 Israeli hostages per day in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners. The announcement came just before the cease-fire was set to expire, and followed a previous agreement to extend the temporary cease-fire in Gaza for at least 24 more hours.

Two more Israeli hostages were released on Thursday, Israel said, as a short-term truce deal between Israel and Hamas, the Gaza Strip’s ruling militant group, neared its one-week mark in the Palestinian territory. Negotiations on extending it came down to the wire, with last-minute disagreements over the hostages to be freed by Hamas in exchange for another day of a halt in fighting.

The temporary truce has allowed Palestinians to return to their homes and businesses in the Gaza Strip, which have been damaged by the conflict. Palestinians have been able to bake bread by their destroyed homes in Kuza’ a Gaza Strip during the temporary ceasefire.

Additional hostages were expected to be transferred to the aid organization over the next few hours, according to the military. The temporary truce has allowed for a period of relative calm in the region, but it is unclear how long it will last.