Israel, Hamas extend truce

The four-day truce between Israel and Hamas has been extended by two days as Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners were swapped by the two sides on Tuesday.

"The Palestinian and Israeli sides have reached an agreement to extend the humanitarian pause in Gaza for two additional days under the same conditions," Qatar's foreign ministry said in a statement on X.

Militant group Hamas also confirmed the extension, though there was no official word from Israel.

United States National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that "in order to extend the pause, Hamas has committed to releasing another 20 women and children."

The extension came as 11 more hostages were freed from Gaza, along with the release of another 33 Palestinian prisoners — the last exchange under the existing deal.

The hostages arrived in Israel late Monday, the country's military said.

All 11 were from the Nir Oz kibbutz, the community said.

Dual nationals, with Argentinians, Germans and French were also among those released.

Images released by the Israeli military showed French-Israeli child Eitan Yahalomi reunited with his mother, who gripped him tightly to her.

Shortly after the arrival of the hostages was confirmed, Israel's prison authority said 33 Palestinian inmates had been released.

In east Jerusalem, prisoner Muhammad Abu Al-Humus called his release "an indescribable joy" and kissed his mother's hand as he entered his home, while crowds in the West Bank town of Beitunia waved green Hamas flags to greet those arriving on a coach.

But nearby there were also clashes with Israeli troops by Ofer prison, with Palestinians burning tires and throwing stones. The Palestinian health ministry said one person was killed.

The truce has allowed residents who fled fighting in northern Gaza to return to Gaza City, which has been ravaged by relentless Israeli bombardment.

People walked or bicycled along debris-lined streets, where the cars were flattened and buildings torn apart.

The Hamas-run health ministry said no fuel had arrived for generators at hospitals in the territory's north, despite the truce.

And United Nations official Tor Wennesland warned the humanitarian situation "remains catastrophic."

It "requires the urgent entry of additional aid and supplies in a smooth, predictable, and continuous manner to alleviate the unbearable suffering of Palestinians in Gaza," the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process said.