Israel faces mounting pressure to extend a four-day pause in its conflict against Hamas, but military officials fear that a longer truce risks blunting its efforts to rout the movement, AFP reports.

Under the deal, 50 of the roughly 240 hostages held by the fighters will be freed over four days in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, with a built-in extension mechanism to prolong the process as long as at least 10 Israeli captives are released each day.

That increases the number of hostages returned — and there is strong domestic pressure within Israel to do so — but gives Hamas a longer window in which to regroup, recover, re-arm and ultimately return to the fight, analysts say.

It also increases diplomatic pressure on Israel from the international community, which will become steadily less willing to countenance a return to the pounding of Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crisis.

“Time works against Israel as always and against the IDF,” said Andreas Krieg, of King’s College London, referring to the Israeli military.

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