If the truce between Hamas and Israel is not extended, the war will spread to the Middle East, warned Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, in statements he made to the Lebanese Al Mayadeen TV channel.

Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire on Wednesday for at least four days, so that during this time humanitarian aid is promoted in the Gaza Strip and at the same time 50 of the hostages held by the Palestinian organization are released, in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinians, mainly women and minors, from Israeli prisons.

Gaza ceasefire brings relief, but little hope of lasting peace, the Guardian comments in the meantime in an article.

Many people – in Israel, the occupied territories, the Middle East and far beyond – will feel enormous relief at the news of a ceasefire and hostage deal. But the temporary nature of the pause in the Israeli assault on Gaza, coupled with the number of prisoners remaining in Hamas hands, means that any hopes for a definitive end to hostilities remain tragically slim.