Race to keep peace

Talks to save 6-day ceasefire | 'Airstrike kills baby & boy of 4

- CHRIS HUGHES

NEGOTIATORS were locked in talks last night to extend the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, due to end at 5 am this morning.

Both sides want the six-day truce lengthened, but Egyptian and Qatari mediators are thrashing out the details.

Last night the first of 12 Israeli hostages were released from captivity in Gaza. Ten more were due to be freed.

The Israeli military said Hamas handed over two Russian-Israeli hostages while Israel is set to release 30 Palestinian prisoners.

As talks continued Hamas claimed, without evidence, that 10-month-old Israeli Kfir Bibas, brother Ariel, four, and mum Shiri, 32, had been killed in an Israeli airstrike before the truce. The fate of Kfir's dad Yarden, 34, is unknown.

The White House is threatening to withdraw support for Israel in Gaza unless it takes more care to avoid civilian casualties in the south.