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Several international leaders have called on Israel and the Islamist militant group Hamas to extend their truce to allow for more aid into Gaza and the release of hostages from the strip.
Qatar, Egypt, the United States, the European Union and Spain were all working to extend the four-day cease-fire, the Palestinian Authority’s foreign minister, Riyad al-Maliki, said, according to Reuters.
Speaking at the same event as al-Malki, the Forum for the Union of the Mediterranean (UfM), EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said he hoped a truce would last “a few more days.”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called for a halt in the fighting in Gaza to be prolonged to allow for more aid and the release of hostages.
“I call for an extension of the pause. This would allow for much-needed relief to the people of Gaza and the release of more hostages,” Stoltenberg said.
He also said Iran, which also called for a permanent cease-fire on Monday, should rein in its “proxies.” Tehran is a known supporter of Israel-opposed militant groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Qatar, who mediated the original agreement, has expressed hopes for an extended truce beyond the initially agreed four days.
On Sunday, US President Joe Biden said the goal was “to keep this pause going beyond tomorrow so that we can continue to see more hostages come out and surge more humanitarian relief into those in need in Gaza.”
Under the truce, 58 hostages being held in Gaza were freed, and 117 Palestinian prisoners were released since Friday.
Israel and Hamas have signaled their willingness to extend the deal beyond midnight, but no concrete announcements have been made.
According to Reuters, an Israeli government spokesperson said on Monday that 184 hostages were still held in Gaza, including 14 foreigners and 80 Israelis with dual nationality.
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