The temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has entered its fifth day after a 48-hour extension was agreed. Three Palestinians will be released from Israeli prisons in exchange for each Israeli hostage returned from Gaza.
- But Hamas says it is not holding all of the captives in the Gaza Strip, which could complicate efforts to free the most vulnerable
- A senior Hamas source in Qatar tells the BBC that some of the civilian hostages are held by smaller groups like Palestinian Islamic Jihad
- The source says 10 hostages will be released on Tuesday and another 10 on Wednesday but these numbers have not been confirmed by Israel.
- Meanwhile, the United Nations has used the pause in fighting to get desperately needed aid into Gaza, but says much more is needed
- Hamas crossed the border and killed 1,200 people in Israel on 7 October, with about 240 taken hostage
- Since then, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says more than 14,500 people have been killed in Israel's retaliatory campaign. Images of Israeli hostages reunited with families released
We've just received some new pictures of the 11 hostages released last night by Hamas being reunited with their families in Israel.
Eight children, an 18-year-old woman and two mothers were returned to Israel. They were all from the same kibbutz - Nir Oz, which was the site of one of the worst massacres during the 7 October Hamas attacks.
All the fathers of the children released overnight are still being held hostage in Gaza.
So far there have been 74 people released from Gaza, out of around 240 people believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups.
Qatar is focused on further extending Hamas’s temporary ceasefire deal with Israel, based on the militant group’s ability to continue releasing 10 hostages per day, an official has said.
The temporary ceasefire – which Qatar is mediating through talks with Israel and Hamas - was extended by 48 hours yesterday afternoon, and is now on its fifth day.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari also said Qatar “cannot validate” the number of remaining hostages beyond the 20 set to be released by Hamas on Tuesday and Wednesday. Hamas has previously said some hostages are being held by smaller groups and they need to locate them.
Al-Ansari also said there have been “minimal breaches” of the truce, but that these have not threatened the overall agreement.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that deaths from untreated illnesses could exceed deaths from bombardment in Gaza.
A WHO assessment of UNRWA shelters found widespread diarrhoea and respiratory infections among children and infants, and no treatment whatsoever.
Patients with chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, or diabetes are also getting no treatment.
Meanwhile, the Unicef team in northern Gaza is also warning of catastrophic war injuries, seeing children with "horrendous wounds" lying in car parks and gardens.
Aid agencies repeating that a resumption of fighting should be unthinkable, calling again for a permanent ceasefire.
EVEN MORE DETAILS AT: Israel Gaza live news: More hostages to be freed as Gaza truce extended for 48 hours - BBC News
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