Qatar’s foreign minister says an agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip for an additional two days.

Israel previously said it was open to extending the truce if more captives were released by Hamas.

According to BBC News, US national security spokesman John Kirby says Hamas has committed to releasing another 20 women and children over the next two days.

So far under the Israel-Hamas deal, 39 Israeli hostages in Gaza have been released, with 117 Palestinians freed from Israeli jails.

Additional truck-loads of humanitarian supplies also entered the Gaza Strip today with food, fuel and medicines being distributed by aid organisations.

Al Jazeera says while United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has hailed the two-day extension as a “glimpse of hope and humanity” he also warned it was not enough time to meet the aid needs of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

This story has been updated.