If truce ends, will Israel spare civilians?

Tel Aviv, AP: A truce between Israel and Hamas entered its fifth day on Tuesday, with the militant group promising to release more hostages to delay the expected resumption of the war and Israel under growing pressure to spare Palestinian civilians when it renews its offensive.

The sides agreed to extend their truce through Wednesday, with another two planned exchanges of militantheld hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

But Israel has vowed to resume the war with “full force” to destroy Hamas once it's clear that no more hostages will be freed under the deal.

The Biden administration has told Israel it must avoid “significant further displacement” and mass casualties among Palestinian civilians if it resumes the offensive, and that it must operate with more precision in southern Gaza than it has in the north, according to US officials.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House. CIA director William Burns and David Barnea, who heads Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, were in Qatar, a key mediator with Hamas, to discuss extending the cease-fire and releasing more hostages, a diplomat said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.

A US official confirmed Burns was in Qatar, speaking anonymously because the director's travel plans are not publicized for security reasons.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit the region this week, also with an eye to extending the truce.

Hamas and other militants are still holding about 160 people, out of the 240 seized in their October 7 assault into southern Israel that ignited the war.

That's enough to potentially extend the truce for another two weeks under the existing framework.