Two-Day Truce Extension Confirmed by U.S., Qatar and Hamas but Not By Netanyahu

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby announced today that Israel and Hamas agreed to extend the truce in Gaza for another two days. Kirby said that the extension means that Hamas will release another 20 hostages. Another 60 Palestinians will be released at the same time. The White House announcement followed one from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar reporting that Doha had successfully negotiated an agreement between Israel and Hamas to extend the four-day truce between them by an additional two days. Hamas also confirmed the agreement. Later, President Joe Biden thanked the leaders of Qatar, Israel and Egypt “for their commitment to this process and in reaching the agreement for an extension over the next 48 hours,” in a statement issued by the White House.