Hamas Wants the Ceasefire to Be Extended, President Biden: That's Our Goal

US President Joe Biden. (Twitter/@POTUS)

JAKARTA - The Hamas militant group wants to extend the ceasefire agreement with Israel, following three waves of hostage and detainee releases in an agreement with Israel, a step also wanted by United States President Joe Biden.

A total of 39 Palestinian prisoners from seven Israeli prisons were released on Sunday, as part of a deal to release 17 hostages by Hamas militants in Gaza, which came as the two sides implemented a ceasefire agreed to last Friday.

In a statement released Sunday evening, Hamas said they wanted to "extend the ceasefire after the four-day period expires, through serious efforts to increase the number of those released from prison, as stipulated in the humanitarian ceasefire agreement," reported CNN, November 27.

Earlier, Qatar, which played a key role in mediating the agreement, said it also hoped to extend the ceasefire, which includes provisions for an additional day of extension for every ten hostages Hamas is ready to release.

"What we hope is that the momentum generated from the release and from this four-day agreement will allow us to extend the ceasefire beyond these four days, and therefore have more serious discussions regarding the other hostages," said a ministry spokesman. Qatar Foreign Affairs Majed Al-Ansari Saturday.

Meanwhile, Israel's War Cabinet discussed the possibility of extending a temporary ceasefire with Hamas, when they met on Sunday evening.

The source, however, said the terms of the extension had not changed from the initial agreement, meaning Hamas would need to release an additional 10 hostages for each additional day of the fighting lull.

Separately, President Biden in comments at the White House said his administration's goal was to extend the pause in fighting in Gaza, to ensure the safe release of hostages and allow more important aid to reach civilians in the enclave.

President Biden said he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will remain in touch personally to ensure the agreement is fully implemented and also work to extend the agreement.

"For weeks I have advocated for a break in the agreement, fighting for two goals: to increase aid going to Gaza civilians who need help, and to facilitate the release of hostages," President Biden said.

He added that the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas "is structured in such a way that it can be expanded to continue building on these results."

"That's our goal, to keep this pause longer," said President Biden.