Qatar's Foreign Ministry says Israel and the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas have agreed to extend the pause in their fighting by one more day.

The ministry made the announcement on Thursday. It's the second extension since the truce began last Friday.

The Israeli military said in a social media post on Thursday that the pause will continue in light of the mediators' efforts to continue the process of releasing hostages held by Hamas.

Hamas also announced that an agreement has been reached to extend the pause to a seventh day.

Since the truce took effect, Hamas has released Israeli and foreign hostages in several phases, and Israel set free Palestinians it had detained.

The first pause of four days was extended by two days. The second extension means the truce will now continue at least through Thursday.