Mediation efforts intensify to extend Gaza ceasefire

“Qatar and Egypt have sent a draft agreement to Israel and Hamas to extend the current four-day ceasefire and facilitate more prisoner exchanges between the two sides,” a Palestinian source said on November 26. The discussions involved the release of 40 to 50 detainees in Gaza, the source said.

Hamas has shown goodwill towards the proposal. The force issued a statement on the evening of November 26 stating: "Hamas has informed the mediators of its desire to extend the current ceasefire agreement by 2-4 days and could secure the release of 20-40 Israeli prisoners." Hamas also called on Israel to make efforts to increase the number of people currently detained in Israel who will be released. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he could agree to extend the agreement with Hamas for a few more days if the force released more hostages.

In a phone call with US President Joe Biden, Netanyahu “welcomed” the extension of the ceasefire on the basis of 10 hostages being released each day, as outlined in the Qatar-brokered deal.

In another development, according to a VNA correspondent in Cairo, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry had a phone call with his US counterpart Antony Blinken and stressed the need to extend the current ceasefire into a permanent one and ensure sustainable aid to all areas of the Gaza Strip.

Mr. Shoukry called for the implementation of the latest United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution on extending the ceasefire and humanitarian corridor in the Gaza Strip, to prevent the unprecedented deterioration of conditions for the Palestinian people. The Egyptian foreign minister stressed the important role of the permanent members of the UNSC in ending violations of international law in Gaza. The Egyptian foreign minister also discussed the draft resolution proposed by Arab and Muslim groups to the UNSC, aimed at ensuring the safe delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

For his part, Secretary Blinken appreciated Egypt's efforts to contain the crisis in Gaza, with several aid shipments entering the Gaza Strip in the past three days, while Israel and Hamas have released three hostages and prisoners. The two sides agreed on the need to cooperate to stabilize the region and realize a lasting political solution to the Palestinian issue based on a two-state solution.

On the same day, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte held a phone call and stressed the need to reach a lasting ceasefire agreement, as well as a fair and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue to achieve the goal of achieving security and stability in the Middle East.

November 26 marked the third day of the Gaza ceasefire. Aid flows increased, with more supplies and fuel flowing through the Rafah border crossing into Gaza. Hamas released a third wave of hostages, including a four-year-old American girl. Israeli officials said a total of 39 hostages had been returned to Israel since November 24. In return, 39 more Palestinian prisoners were released on November 26, following the release of 78 in the first two days of the ceasefire.