Palestinian Territories - Israel said Monday that 11 more hostages released from the Gaza Strip have arrived home.

This comes hours after it was announced that a truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza will be extended by two days, opening the way for further releases.

With just hours to go before the humanitarian pause was to end early Tuesday, Hamas said that an agreement had been reached to prolong it by 48 hours under the existing terms.

There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli side of the extension, which was nevertheless hailed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as "a glimpse of hope and humanity in the middle of the darkness of war."

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Late Monday, Israel's military announced that 11 hostages were "now in Israeli territory."

"Our forces will accompany them until they are reunited with their families," it said in a statement, adding that the military "salutes and embraces the released hostages upon their return home."

Qatar said the 11 Israelis would be freed in exchange for 33 Palestinian prisoners, most of whom it said are minors.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will pay his third wartime visit to the Middle East this week, a US official said Monday.