Qatari Foreign Ministry

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) condemned a decision by Israel on Sunday to expand settlement building in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

The UAE warned that the move will lead to increased tensions and an escalation in the region.

A temporary cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war has been extended another day, according to mediator Qatar and the announcement Thursday came minutes before the cease-fire was set to expire.

Negotiations on extending it came down to the wire, with last-minute disagreements over the hostages to be freed by Hamas in exchange for another day of a halt in fighting.

Eleven hostages released today by Hamas are already in Israel, the Israeli army said late last night, as quoted by Reuters and BTA.

The freed hostages will be given medical examinations, after which they will be able to be reunited with their families.