Hamas has released eight Israeli hostages in Gaza under a last-minute extension of a truce deal and Israel freed 30 Palestinian prisoners as negotiators sought to renew the pause in fighting again, Reuters reports.

Israel identified two women who were released first on Thursday as 21-year-old Mia Schem, among those seized at a dance party that Hamas attacked on Oct 7, and 40-year-old Amit Soussana.

Photos released by the Israeli prime minister’s office showed Schem, who also holds French nationality, embracing her mother and brother after they were reunited at Hatzerim military base in Israel.

The Palestinian group then freed six more hostages, transferring them to the Red Cross, the Israeli military said. Four were women aged 29 to 41 including one Mexican-Israeli dual national, according to official information.

As part of the agreement, 30 Palestinians were released from jails, the Israeli prison service said.

 A Palestinian prisoner hugs his mother after being released in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Dec 1, 2023. — Reuters
A Palestinian prisoner hugs his mother after being released in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Dec 1, 2023. — Reuters

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