Pressure mounts for Gaza truce extension

By Nathan Morley

Israel says negotiations are ongoing over hostage and prisoner releases expected on Monday. 

Monday is the fourth and final day of the current truce, which has brought a period of relative calm to the region after nearly seven weeks of war.

As it stands, international efforts are continuing to try and extend the temporary ceasefire, which is due to expire at midnight local time.

NATO’s chief, Jens Stoltenberg, said an extension would allow for "much-needed relief for the people of Gaza and the release of more hostages."

The government in Jerusalem is offering a day's pause in fighting for every 10 additional Israeli hostages released, while Hamas says it is seeking an extension of the break in fighting.

As part of the deal, 39 Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza have already been released, with 117 Palestinians freed from Israeli prisons.

At the same time, more truckloads of humanitarian resources entered Gaza on Monday with food, fuel, blankets, and medicines being distributed by aid organisations.

Hamas’s attacks on Israel, launched on 7 October, killed 1,200 people, with about 240 taken hostage.

Since then, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says more than 14,500 people have been killed in Israel's retaliatory action.