Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend their truce in Gaza for a third time.

It had been due to expire at 5am Irish time; however, despite some ‘last-minute disagreements’, mediator Qatar has confirmed that the extension was agreed on the same terms as before.

The pause in the fighting will see 10 Israeli hostages exchanged for 30 Palestinian prisoners later.

Reuters Jerusalem correspondent Emily Rose told Newstalk Breakfast the hold up seemed to be around who was being released.

"What seemed to be what the Israeli officials were waiting for was a list of the hostages that would be released today," she said.

"They said they received that list and so the pause would be extended.

"It looked like, up until just the last few minutes, that that was kind of up in the air".

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media in Cairo, Egypt, 15-10-23. Image: American Photo Archive / Alamy

Ms Rose said it is likely the next steps will be taken day-by-day.

"Secretary of State Antony Blinken from the United States is here, visiting, trying to continue to broker that pause," she said.

"What we heard from Israeli officials yesterday - both the senior brass in the military and the Government - was that they said that they would be ready to continue this pause in exchange for hostages".

Ms Rose said the officials cautioned that would be "ready to return to the fighting" if that process stopped.

In this photo provided by the Israeli Army Emily Hand is reunited with her father, 26-11-2023. Image: Associated Press / Alamy

One of those released in recent days was nine-year-old Irish-Israeli girl Emily Hand.

She was held by Hamas for 50 days and released on Saturday to what her father said was a 'beautiful' reunion.

"The most shocking, disturbing part of meeting her was she was just whispering. I couldn't hear her," her father Thomas has said.

" I had to put my ear on her lips, like this close, and say, what did you say? And [she said] 'I thought you were kidnapped'.

"She thought I was in captivity."

He said the next step is to get Emily back to full health.

"The future is obviously to get Emily back to health, and we will do that along the way," he said.

"The next thing is that we have to get all the children, obviously, all the women, all the men - all the hostages have to be brought back," he added.

Main image: Palestinians search for victims in the rubble after Israeli airstrikes on Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, 31-10-2023. Image: UPI/Alamy