Israel confirms extension to truce with Hamas

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Thursday morning that the ceasefire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip will be extended, Xinhua reports.

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, read a short statement released by the IDF several minutes before the expiration of the current truce deal.

It did not reveal the length of the extension. According to a statement by Hamas, the truce, which was set to expire on Thursday morning, will be extended for an additional day.

Only eight hostages will be released by Hamas on Thursday, according to several Israeli media, as the two Israeli-Russian women released by Hamas earlier on Wednesday will be included in the hostage list for Thursday. In exchange, 30 Palestinians will be released from Israeli prisons.

Overnight, both sides just completed the sixth round of release as part of the truce agreement. A total of 14 hostages, including 10 Israelis and four Thais, were freed on Wednesday night and received by Israeli hospitals for treatment and monitoring on Thursday morning, while 30 Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons