Qatar says agreement reached to extend truce for two additional days
The humanitarian truce deal in Gaza has been extended by a further two days, a spokesperson for Qatar’s ministry of foreign affairs said Monday in a statement on social media.
In an earlier post, Majed Al-Ansari said the deal could include the delivery of additional aid to the Strip and the release of the “largest possible number of hostages and prisoners.”
It comes as an earlier four-day truce was set to expire Monday.
— Karen Gilchrist
Truce extension expected, source tells NBC News
The humanitarian truce that has brought a pause to the fighting in the Gaza Strip is set to be extended, a senior Arab official with “direct knowledge of negotiations” told NBC News on Monday.
The source, who has not been named, told NBC that details of the deal were still being finalized and that it was not yet assured.
It comes after the head of Egypt’s government-run State Information Service said earlier in the day that Egyptian-Qatari efforts to extend the truce are “so far close.”
Diaa Rashwan said the extension was expected to last two days and would include the daily release of 10 women and children held hostage in Gaza and 30 Palestinians kept prisoner in Israel.
It would also extend the cease-fire in the entire Gaza Strip and the entry of medical, food and fuel aid to the Gaza Strip during the period, Rashwan said.
CNBC could not independently verify the proposals.
— Karen Gilchrist
Bank of Israel holds key interest rate steady
The Bank of Israel on Monday held its benchmark interest rates steady at 4.75% in a bid to maintain finacial stability during the country’s ongoing war with Hamas.
The hold, which was in line with expectations, comes in the wake of an aggressive tightening cycle, which saw rates increased 10 straight times since last April..
“The war is having significant economic consequences, both on real economic activity and on the financial markets,” the central bank said.
The Bank cut its forecasts for…
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