Obstacles to 4th phase of Hamas-Israel truce have been overcome: Diaa Rashwan

CAIRO – 27 November 2023: The obstacles to the fourth phase of the truce have been overcome thanks to Egyptian and Qatari efforts, and the detainee exchange will be carried out in the coming few hours, including 11 Israelis and 33 Palestinians, said Head of the State Information Services Diaa Rashwan.

Rashwan said that the exchange of detainees and prisoners will be carried out in the coming hours, including 11 Israeli detainees in the Gaza Strip, in exchange for the release of 33 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry announces that an agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian truce between Hamas and Israel for an additional two days in Gaza

Diaa Rashwan announced previously that the Egyptian-Qatari brokered truce between Hamas and Israel is likely to be extended for additional two days.

The extended truce includes a daily release of 10 detainees in Gaza, women and children, in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, making the total of those released in the two days of the extended truce, 20 Israelis versus 60 Palestinians.

Rashwan explained that in addition to the releases, the ceasefire in the entire Gaza Strip, the entry of medical, food and fuel aid, and the ban on Israeli flights over the Gaza Strip will continue during the two days of the truce.

Rashwan added that it is expected today to exchange 11 Israeli detainees in the Gaza Strip, and negotiations are underway to release 33 Palestinians from the Israeli side.

Israeli media reports said, Monday that the prevailing opinions in Israel are leaning towards extending the truce agreement.

According to the Israeli Channel 12, the War Council expected to be held in Tel Aviv to conduct consultations in this regard.

The channel quoted Israeli sources saying that there is a tendency to accept an extension of the truce, after consulting with regional and international parties.

As for Hamas, they announced on Sunday, that they are seeking to extend the truce in the Gaza Strip through ‘serious discussions and negotiations’ to increase the number of detainees released in accordance with the terms of the humanitarian truce agreement with Israel.

The "humanitarian truce", which was reached between Hamas and Israel through Egyptian-Qatari mediation, is scheduled to end on Tuesday morning.