Extension of Ceasefire for Seven Days and Al-Qassam Brigades Urge Fighters to Prepare for Battle

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced today, Thursday, that it has agreed to extend the ceasefire with Israel in Gaza for an additional seven days. The Israeli army previously stated that the ceasefire with Hamas would be extended to allow mediators to continue working on the release of hostages held in Gaza. The military wing of Hamas requested its fighters in the Gaza Strip to prepare to resume hostilities with Israel if the temporary ceasefire, set to expire at seven o'clock (0500 GMT) this morning, is not extended. In a statement, the movement noted that "the Al-Qassam Brigades ask their working forces to remain at a high state of combat readiness in the final hours of the ceasefire." It added that the fighters should "stay in this state unless an official announcement is made confirming the extension of the ceasefire."