More Israeli hostages expected to be released on third day of truce

Summary

• Crowds have met 39 freed Palestinian prisoners in the occupied West Bank after 13 Israeli and four Thai captives released by Hamas left Gaza through the Rafah crossing.
• The exchange on the second day of the four-day truce was delayed for hours over Hamas's allegations that Israel was violating the truce deal while families in Gaza returned to find their homes in ruins.
• The PRCS says the Israeli army has besieged two hospitals in the occupied West Bank amid a night of deadly Israeli raids.
• More than 14,800 Palestinians, including 6,150 children, have been killed in Gaza since 7 October. In Israel, the official death toll from Hamas's attack stands at 1,200.

7:10pm

At least one Russian-Israeli may be released in addition to 13 hostages

Israel is anticipating the potential release of additional hostages from the Gaza Strip today, on top of the 13 Israelis that have been agreed upon by Hamas, reports Times of Israel,

There are ongoing talks for the release of at least one dual Russian-Israeli citizen, which has been reported as a gesture by Hamas to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Israeli officials have warned that nothing relating to the hostage deal is final until it is carried out. Yesterday, Hamas delayed the release of the hostages for several hours, added the Israeli media.

6:55pm

Hamas announce deaths of four military commanders

The armed wing of Hamas, the al Qassam Brigades, say four of its military commanders have been killed, reports BBC.

In a statement released on their Telegram channel, quoted by the Reuters news agency, the group says that one of Hamas operatives that has been killed was Ahmad Al Ghandour, known as Abu Anas, who was described as a "member of the military council and the commander of the North Brigade". BBC added.

It was not made immediately clear when and how they were killed, said the UK media.

3:28pm

More Israeli hostages expected to be released on third day of truce

Israel said last night it received the list of a third group of hostages set for release, but the timings for the release of hostages are not confirmed, reports BBC.

The deal between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Qatar, mandates the release of Palestinian prisoners to hostages at a ratio of three to one. More Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released today.

The timings of the exchange have not been released but we'll be following the details closely.

There were a few anxious hours last night when the released of the second group of hostages was delayed.

Eventually another 13 Israelis who had been taken hostage during the attacks on 7 October were freed. They are all women, teenagers and young children.

Four Thai nationals were also released as part of a separate deal between Hamas and the Egyptian government.

39 Palestinian prisoners were also freed from Israeli jails.

3:12pm

Another round of captive release expected today

Hamas is set to release a third group of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners on Sunday, reports Al Jazeera.

On Saturday, it released 13 Israeli and four Thai captives. Israel, in turn, freed 39 Palestinian prisoners.

PM Netanyahu's office said it had since received a list of captives due to be released by Hamas on Sunday. The list was being checked by security officials, it said, and families had been informed.

2:59pm

What's been happening in West Bank?

The latest developments from the occupied West Bank, as Al Jazeera reports:

• Five Palestinians killed and at least 18 wounded in a raid in Jenin that lasted more than 12 hours. Two of those injured are reportedly in critical condition.
• Three other Palestinians killed in military operations in the village of Yutma south of Nablus, al-Bireh and Qabatiyeh town south of Jenin.
• Palestine Red Crescent told Al Jazeera that Israeli soldiers delayed their medics from providing aid and evacuating 18-year-old Palestinian Mahmoud Abu Haija, who was wounded in the chest inside his home. He was only evacuated after pronounced dead by medics just outside his home.
• Two of Jenin's main hospitals besieged by Israeli armored vehicles, ambulances searched and two people detained from inside the ambulances.

2:45pm

Israeli Military to resume fighting 'with determination' at the end of truce

Israeli defense forces' Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi says the military will return to fighting Hamas "with determination" once the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip ends, reports Times of Israel today.

"The IDF and its soldiers fight fiercely to protect the lives of our people while upholding the values of the IDF. We created conditions for the framework of the release of the first group of hostage children and mothers [that is taking place] during this pause" in the fighting, writes Halevi.

"When the framework is completed, we will return to our operations with determination, for the continued release of the hostages and the complete dismantlement of Hamas," he continues.

2:15pm

13 Israelis to be released by Hamas this evening, along with 7 foreign nationals

Qatar says 13 Israeli women and children to be released by Hamas this evening, along with 7 foreign nationals, reports Time of Israel

Qatar reportedly says another 13 children and women will be freed by the Hamas terror group later today, after 51 days held hostage in the Gaza Strip.

As part of a separate agreement, seven foreign nationals will also be set free, Doha says, according to Hebrew-language reports.

Israel will free 39 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

There is no official Israeli announcement on the matter, but the Ynet news site and Army Radio say that Israeli officials confirmed they are expecting 13 Israelis to be released.

Twenty-six people have been released so far as part of the agreement, which has also seen a pause in fighting, humanitarian aid entering the Strip, and three Palestinian prisoners released for every hostage set free

1:30pm

Israeli forces warn against heading back to the north

An Al Jazeera correspondent is reporting the Israeli army is once again warning Palestinians not to travel towards the northern Gaza Strip despite the truce currently in effect.

On Friday, at least two Palestinians were reported to have been killed by Israeli forces, and 11 wounded as they attempted to return to the north.

11:35am

How many prisoners and captives have been released?

A total of 26 Israeli citizens, 78 Palestinians, 14 Thais and one Filipino have been released since the four-day truce started on Friday, Al Jazeera reports.

In short:

• On Friday, 13 Israeli children and elderly people were released by Hamas, as Israel freed 39 Palestinian women and teenagers, including minors.
• Hamas released 13 Israelis early on Sunday – six women and seven minors – after a delay, while Israel earlier freed 39 Palestinians – six women and 33 minors.
• Fourteen Thai and one Filipino citizens were also released by Hamas during the process.
• Another round of exchange is expected later on Sunday.

Hamas said 50 women and children are to be freed in return for 150 Palestinian women and children in Israeli jails in total under the truce deal. Israel says the truce could be extended if more captives are released at a rate of 10 per day, Al Jazeera added.

10:30am

Family of freed captive Maya Regev says 'heart split'

The mother of the Israeli captive Maya Regev has expressed mixed emotions following the release of her 21-year-old daughter by Hamas.

Maya Regev's 18-year-old brother Itay, who was shown with his hands tied in the back of a pick-up truck in footage posted on social media, is believed to still be in captivity in Gaza, reports Al-Jazeera.

"I'm excited and happy that Maya is on her way to us now. Nonetheless, my heart is split because my son, Itay, is still in Hamas's captivity in Gaza," Mirit Regev said in a statement released by a support group for the captives on Sunday.

"I am going to hug Maya so hard. We will not stop until Itay and all the hostages get back home."

10:15am

Israel arresting Palestinians at 'unstaffed checkpoint' in Gaza 'corridor': UN

The UN office for humanitarian affairs (UNOCHA) has said that Israeli forces are reportedly arresting people moving from north and central Gaza towards the south through a checkpoint that Israel is describing as a "corridor".

According to UNOCHA, people are being made to pass through an "unstaffed checkpoint" where they are asked to:

• Show IDs
• "Undergo what appears to be a facial recognition scan"

In one case in the last week, the UN says a child was left to pass through the checkpoint alone after his father was arrested at the checkpoint, reports Al-Jazeera.

9:50am

Families of Israeli captives to be released notified: Officials

The Israeli prime minister's office has said that it has received a list of names of captives to be released on Sunday.

In a post on X, the office said that Israeli security officials were checking the list and that families had been notified. The post also asked the media to "exercise appropriate caution".

7:50am

Thai PM says four Thais among freed captives, all healthy

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has confirmed that four Thai nationals are among the latest captives freed by Hamas, reports Al-Jazeera.

"Everyone is healthy. No one needed urgent medical attention," Srettha said in a post on X on Saturday. "Everyone talks and walks normally. Everyone is glad to be released."

7:35am

Israel spokesman rebukes Irish PM over statement on nine-year-old girl's release

Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy has rebuked Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar over his statement on the release of nine-year-old Irish-Israeli captive Emily Hand.

In a statement posted on X on Saturday, Varadkar said an "innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned" and "we breathe a massive sign of relief".

"Our prayers have been answered," Varadkar said.

Levy on X hit back that Hand had not been "lost" but had been "brutally abducted by the death squads that massacred her neighbours".

"She wasn't 'found'. Hamas knew where she was all along and cynically held her as a hostage. And Hamas didn't answer your prayers. It answered Israel's military pressure," Levy said.

6:45am

Israeli army kills 6 people in West Bank, Palestinian ministry says

Israeli troops have killed six Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Four Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire in Jenin on Saturday during an incursion into the town, the ministry said.

A 25-year-old doctor was also killed outside his home in Qabatiya, near Jenin, early on Saturday morning, while another Palestinian was killed in el-Bireh, near Ramallah, the ministry said.

6:05am

Berlin 'relieved' after release of four German-Israelis

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has said she is "greatly relieved" that four German citizens are among the latest captives released by Hamas.

Baerbock thanked Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Egypt and the Red Cross for helping secure their release in a post on X.

"Over 200 women, children and men are still in the hands of Hamas," Baerbock said.

"Our thoughts are with their families. As much as this day gives us hope, it is not a day to rest our efforts. The release of all hostages, especially the German citizens, remains a top priority."

Baerbock said it was "crucial" that everyone honours their agreements and that the Red Cross is given access to the captives to provide them with medical care.

5:20am

Palestinian families wait to meet freed prisoners

Palestinian families are waiting to meet a second group of 39 Palestinian prisoners who were freed late on Saturday night.