Gaza truce on track as more hostages freed

Deir al-Balah (Gaza Strip): The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appeared to be back on track Sunday after the release of a third group of 17 hostages including 13 Israelis and 4 foreign nationals by Hamas.

Meanwhile, reports said that Israel has released the third batch of 39 Palestinian prisoners under the hostage swapping deal.

In a separate development, Hamas announced that one of its top commanders had been killed, without saying when or how. Israel's military confirmed it.

Earlier, the second exchange was delayed for hours Saturday after Hamas accused Israel of violating the agreement, which has brought the first significant pause in seven weeks of war marked by the deadliest IsraeliPalestinian violence in decades and vast destruction and displacement across the Gaza Strip.

Hamas had later released 13 Israelis and four Thais, while Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners.

Diaa Rashwan, chair of the Egyptian State Information Services, said Egypt had received a list of 13 hostages that Hamas would release Sunday, and another list of 39 Palestinians that Israel is expected to free.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told NBC that the US had “reason to believe” that an American hostage would be released Sunday and said there were hopes it would be Abigail Edan, the 4-year-old girl who lost her parents in the Hamas attack on Oct 7.

Hamas and other militant groups seized around 240 people during the rampage across southern Israel that ignited the war. Forty-four have been released, one was freed by Israeli forces and two were found dead inside Gaza.

More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, roughly two thirds of them women and minors, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

The four-day cease-fire, which began Friday, was brokered by Qatar and Egypt and the United States. Hamas will release at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel will free 150 Palestinian prisoners.

All are women and minors. Israel has said the truce can be extended by an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed, but has vowed to quickly resume its offensive once it ends.

Sullivan said the US is working “with all sides on the possibility that this deal gets extended to additional hostages beyond the initial 50”.

Meanwhile, Hamas announced the death of Ahmed al-Ghandour, who was in charge of northern Gaza and a member of its top military council.