TEL AVIV, November 30. /TASS/. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the extension of a ceasefire in Gaza less than 20 minutes before the expiration of a truce agreement with Hamas.

"In light of the mediators' efforts to continue the process of releasing the hostages and subject to the terms of the framework, the operational pause will continue," the IDF said in a statement.

Hamas, in turn, said that the ceasefire had been extended for one more day.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry also confirmed that Israel and Hamas had agreed to extend the truce for an additional day. Qatari Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari "confirmed that efforts were ongoing with the aim of reaching a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip," the ministry said.

Hamas announced on November 22 that an agreement on a four-day humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip had been reached through the mediation of Qatar and Egypt. The ceasefire took effect at 7:00 a.m. local time (5:00 a.m. GMT) on November 24. The agreement stipulates the release of women and teenagers under the age of 19 who are held in Gaza in exchange for the release of women and teenagers under the age of 19 from Israeli prisons. On November 27, the parties agreed to extend the ceasefire for another two days on the same terms, with three Palestinian prisoners released in exchange for every Israeli hostage freed from captivity. The agreement was supposed to expire at 7:00 a.m. local time on Thursday.