Hamas to release just 8 hostages today instead of mandated 10

Hamas will release only eight hostages on Thursday as part of the extended truce, multiple Hebrew media have reported, adding that the two Israeli-Russian women who were released last night as a “gesture” to Russian President Vladimir Putin will also be counted in the latest list. The hostages who will be released today will include six women and two children. Under the deal between Israel and Hamas, which was brokered by Qatar last week, the ceasefire can continue only if Hamas releases 10 women and children on each day of the truce. According to a report by the Times of Israel, Hamas had initially suggested a list of seven women and children along with three bodies, which Israel rejected as insufficient. Meanwhile, minutes before the Gaza truce was set to expire on Thursday at 7 am local time (10:30 am IST), Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said, “The operational pause will continue in light of the mediators’ efforts to continue the process of releasing the hostages and subject to the terms of the framework.” Hamas and Qatar also confirmed the extension of the truce for a seventh day on Thursday. This is the second extension of the initial four-day truce that began on Friday, 24 November.

The truce has allowed much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza after much of the coastal territory of 2.3 million was reduced to wasteland by Israel’s bombardment in response to a deadly rampage by Hamas militants on October 7.

Hamas, which freed 16 hostages in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners on Wednesday, said in a statement the truce would continue for a seventh day.

With inputs from Reuters