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The four-day truce between the Palestinian militant-Islamist Hamas group and Israel is due to expire on Monday, with a fourth exchange of hostages under the deal expected later in the day.
The delicate truce that began Friday has so far been on track, with Hamas releasing the third group of hostages on Sunday and Israel freeing Palestinian prisoners in return.
Israel said the truce could be extended by an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed, but has vowed to quickly resume its offensive once it ends.
During a phone call with US President Joe Biden on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed this position.
Netanyahu told Biden he would welcome prolonging the truce if 10 hostages are freed per day, but added that “at the end of the deal, we are returning full power to carry out our aims,” according to a report in The Times of Israel.
Hamas, classified a terror organization by Israel, Germany, the EU, the US and many others, also said it would be willing to extend the four-day pause in fighting if serious efforts are made to free more Palestinians.
Biden said Sunday his goal was to extend the cease-fire for as long as possible to allow for the release of more hostages.
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told French broadcaster BFMTV that she was also hoping for an extension.
rm/sri (Reuters, AFP, AP, dpa)
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