Israel-Hamas war: Truce extension until Friday agreed

Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend a temporary truce by another day minutes before it was set to expire, Irael and medediator have confirmed.

"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 Israeli military said on social media.

The truce was set to expire Thursday morning.

Negotiations on extending it came down to the wire, with last-minute disagreements over the hostages to be freed by Hamas, which is considered a terrorist group by several countries, in exchange for another day of a halt in fighting.

China calls for 'sustained humanitarian truce'

China on Thursday called for a "sustained humanitarian truce" in the Israel-Hamas war.

"Parties to the conflict should... immediately realize a durable and sustained humanitarian truce," China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a paper stating the country's position.

The position paper highlighted the need for civilians to be protected. "It is imperative to stop any violent attacks against civilians and violations of international humanitarian law, and avoid attacks on civilian facilities," the paper stated.

China called for humanitarian corridors in Gaza to allow a "rapid, safe, unhindered and sustainable humanitarian access."

The ministry also called for the UN Security Council to formulate "a concrete timetable and roadmap for the implementation of the two-state solution and facilitate a comprehensive, just and lasting solution" to the issues in the region.

Wednesday's developments in the Israel-Hamas war

Wednesday saw the Islamist militant group Hamas handover 16 hostages while Israel released another 30 Palestinian prisoners, in the sixth exchange under the temporary truce.

Qatar, which mediated the current truce between Israel and Hamas, said that of the 10 Israelis released, three held German nationality.

Since the pause in fighting began last Friday, Hamas has released 97 hostages, mostly Israeli nationals, while Israel has freed 210 Palestinian prisoners.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel to push for further extensions of the truce.

Qatar has been trying in its capacity as mediator to secure another extension to the truce that began last Friday.

Fighting began following the October 7 attacks by Hamas, which the EU, US, Germany and other countries classify as a terrorist organization.