The four-day truce reached by Hamas and Israel should allow the release of more than the 50 hostages which the warring parties said would be freed by Hamas, a senior US official has said, AFP reports.

“We do anticipate it’ll be more than 50, but I just don’t want to put a number on it,” the official said of the hostages held by the Palestinian group in besieged Gaza whose release has been negotiated.

“We believe there are more than 50 women and children being held and the whole concept here is to have them all come out,” the official added.

 People prepare a symbolic dinner table during a rally in Tel Aviv demanding the release of Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip. — AFP
People prepare a symbolic dinner table during a rally in Tel Aviv demanding the release of Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip. — AFP

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