Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 11:25am on 30 Nov 2023,Thursday International
Israel and Hamas extend their truce for a seventh day, minutes before expiration. Mediation with Qatar facilitates the release of hostages, with 102 Israelis and 210 Palestinians freed. The temporary ceasefire, initially four days, has been prolonged twice. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken applauds the positive developments, emphasizing the need for continued humanitarian assistance. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomes the truce extension but calls for a "true humanitarian ceasefire" amid Gaza's "epic humanitarian catastrophe." Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterates plans to resume war post-truce. The UN estimates over 1.8 million displaced in Gaza over the past seven weeks.
