Mediators aim to extend Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza ahead of last planned hostage swap

Faith leaders from the Druze, Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities hold an interfaith prayer Wednesday at Kibbutz Kfar Azza near the Israel-Gaza border, the site of an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Hamas that killed about 1,200 people. (Maya Alleruzzo/Associated Press)

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — International mediators appeared to make progress Wednesday on extending the truce in Gaza, encouraging Hamas militants to keep freeing hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and further relief from Israel’s air and ground offensive. The cease-fire will otherwise end within a day.

Israel has welcomed the release of dozens of hostages in recent days and says it will maintain the truce if Hamas keeps freeing captives. Still, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underscored Wednesday that Israel will resume its campaign to eliminate Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for 16 years and orchestrated the deadly attack on Israel that triggered the war