By a day...

Israel and Hamas extend truce by a day

The announcement came hours before gunmen killed 3 in a shooting attack in Jerusalem.

BY CLAUDIA CHIAPPA

Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their temporary cease-fire for an extra day on Thursday, as two gunmen killed three people in a shooting in Jerusalem.

The cease-fire — which had already been extended by two days earlier this week — was set to expire on Thursday at 7 a.m. local time (6 a.m. CET), but was extended in a last-minute announcement. It is now due to run until Friday morning local time.

“The Palestinian and Israeli sides have reached an agreement to extend the humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip for an additional day (today, Thursday) under the existing conditions,” said the Qatari foreign ministry in a statement, minutes before the truce was due to expire.

Under the terms of the cease-fire, Israel has halted military activity and allowed humanitarian aid to enter into the Gaza strip, in exchange for Hamas releasing hostages its militants kidnapped from Israel during the October 7 mass attack. Israel has also released Palestinians held in Israeli detention.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the extended cease-fire on social media. “The operational pause will continue in light of the mediators’ efforts to continue the process of releasing the hostages and subject to the terms of the framework,” the IDF said.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that the truce “has demonstrated success in securing the freedom of hostages and in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza” and that the U.S. wants “to see it continue.”

Shortly after the extension of the cease-fire, Israeli police said two gunmen had opened fire at civilians at a bus station on the outskirts of Jerusalem, reportedly killing three people and injuring at least 16 others. Police said the suspects, who were residents of East Jerusalem, were “neutralized on the spot.”

On Thursday, Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, calling for “an escalation of the resistance.”

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew condemned the attack on social media.

“Abhorrent terrorist attack in Jerusalem this morning,” he said. “We unequivocally condemn such brutal violence. My thoughts are with the families of the victims and I offer my sincere condolences to all those affected.”

Benny Gantz, a member of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war Cabinet, said the attack is “further proof of our commitment to continue the fight with strength and determination against the murderous terror that threatens our citizens.”