At least 10 Israelis a day, along with other nationals, have been released during the truce, in return for Israel’s release of at least 30 Palestinian prisoners.
Asked why Hamas on Thursday was releasing fewer than 10 hostages, as outlined in the ceasefire agreement, the military’s chief spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, noted that 12 Israeli citizens had been released the day before, implying that the overall total had met Israeli demands.
“We insist on the maximum each day,” he said.
Israel was to free 30 Palestinian prisoners later in the evening under the deal.
International pressure has mounted for the truce to continue as long as possible after weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign following Hamas’ deadly October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war.
Hamas hands over 2 female hostages, but shooting that kills 3 threatens truce
Hamas hands over 2 female hostages, but shooting that kills 3 threatens truce
Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza have been killed and more than three-quarters of the population of 2.3 million have been uprooted, leading to a humanitarian crisis.
Israel has vowed to resume the fighting – with the goal of dismantling Hamas – once the ceasefire ends.
The ceasefire is set to expire early on Friday, though international mediators are working to extend it.
The talks appear to be growing tougher, with Hamas having already freed most of the women and children it kidnapped on October 7. The militants are expected to make greater demands in return for freeing scores of civilian men and soldiers. Roughly 140 hostages are believed to remain in Hamas captivity.
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‘We survived’: Thai hostages celebrate their release by Hamas
‘We survived’: Thai hostages celebrate their release by Hamas
Qatar and Egypt, which have played a key role in mediating, are seeking to prolong the deal by another two days, according to Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypt’s State Information Service.
Netanyahu is under intense pressure from families of the hostages to bring them home. But his far-right governing partners are also pushing him to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed, and could abandon his coalition if he is seen as making too many concessions.
Israel says it will maintain the truce until Hamas stops releasing captives, at which point it will resume military operations aimed at eliminating the group, even as the Biden administration has urged it to operate with far greater precision if it does so.
The initial truce, which began Friday and has now been extended twice, called for the release of women and children. Israeli officials said before Thursday’s hostage releases that Gaza militants still hold around 30 women and children, who would all be released within a few days at the current rate.
Israel and Hamas extend truce, minutes before it was to end
Israel and Hamas extend truce, minutes before it was to end
It is not clear how many of the remaining women hostages might be soldiers. For soldiers and the civilian men still in captivity, Hamas is expected to demand the release of high-profile Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks, something Israel has strongly resisted in the past.
Israel says around 125 men are still held hostage, including several dozen soldiers.
The 30 Palestinians due to be released by Israel on Thursday include 22 teenagers and eight Israeli Palestinian women who were arrested since the war started, most of them for pro-Palestinian social media posts, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, which advocates for prisoners.
Israeli authorities have carried out a crackdown on such posts, arresting more than 270 Palestinian citizens on allegations of inciting violence, according to rights groups.