What happens if Israel-Hamas cease-fire isn’t extended?

Palestinians visit their houses destroyed by Israeli airstrikes southeast of Gaza City on Tuesday, Nov. 28. (AP/Adel Hana)

The current cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip is set to expire at midnight tonight (5 p.m. ET) if the two sides can’t come to an agreement on an extension. 

The cease-fire began last Friday and was extended by two days earlier this week. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said last week that the "release of every additional ten hostages will result in one additional day in the pause" in the fighting. 

"The Government of Israel, the IDF and the security services will continue the war in order to return home all of the hostages, complete the elimination of Hamas and ensure that there will be no new threat to the State of Israel from Gaza," Netanyahu's office added, suggesting that fighting will resume whenever the agreement expires. 

Meanwhile, Hamas has said "we affirm that our victorious brigades and all our resistance factions will remain the protective shield and defender of our people until the occupation and aggression are defeated."  

"We promise our people that we will remain loyal to their blood, their sacrifices, their patience, their bond, and their aspirations for liberation, freedom, the restoration of rights, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, with God’s will," Hamas added.