About 215 hostages remain in Gaza, Israeli army spokesman Doron Spielman has said, AFP reports.

“We’re unaware, many of these cases, if they are dead or alive. We’re trying to collect intelligence,” he said.

Hamas fighters are set to release a new wave of hostages today in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, officials said, offering hope to anguished families after seven weeks of conflict that has killed thousands of people.

Key mediator Qatar was expected to announce the numbers of prisoners and hostages to be freed later today — the second swap since a four-day truce came into effect on Friday and largely silenced the guns on both sides.

Israeli authorities said they had received a list of the hostages to be freed but did not provide numbers or the precise timing.