US and Qatari officials have confirmed that Israeli and Hamas forces will pause fighting in the Gaza Strip for two more days past Monday. The government of Qatar, which has acted as a mediator between the belligerents, announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend the humanitarian pause for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip, according to Majed al-Ansari, a spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
John Kirby, the chief spokesperson for the White House’s National Security Council, confirmed the Qatari official’s announcement. During a press conference on Monday afternoon, Kirby said that President Joe Biden and his national security team will work to implement the extension of the original Israel–Hamas agreement, and continue efforts to further extend the pause.
In addition, the extension is expected to result in the release of 20 more individuals, including women and children. Mr. Kirby stated that U.S. officials believe there are eight to nine Americans who remain in the hands of Hamas terrorists.
The pause on fighting has allowed a “surge of humanitarian assistance into Gaza,” including more than 2,000 trucks carrying supplies and tens of thousands of gallons of fuel, according to Mr. Kirby. When asked about the possibility of putting conditions on aid to Israel, Kirby indicated that the Biden administration is unlikely to shift its current approach.
While the Biden administration welcomes the additional two-day pause on the Gaza war, it remains opposed to calling for a long-term ceasefire that would likely mean a return to the pre-Oct. 7 status quo. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Gaza Strip to speak with the fighting forces and said, “We are making every effort to return our hostages, and at the end of the day we will return every one.”