Hamas releases eight hostages in an effort to extend the Gaza truce

(Patria) - Hamas on Thursday released eight Israeli hostages in Gaza as part of a last-minute extension of the truce agreement, and Israel released 30 Palestinian prisoners while negotiators tried again to renew the pause in fighting, Reuters reports.

Israel identified two women released first on Thursday as 21-year-old Mia Schem, among those captured at a music festival attacked by Hamas militants on October 7, and 40-year-old Amit Soussana. Schem also holds French citizenship.

Hamas released six more hostages and handed them over to the Red Cross, the Israeli army said. Four were women aged 29 to 41, including one dual Mexican-Israeli citizen, according to official information.

The other two newly released hostages were siblings, Belal and Aisha al-Ziadna, aged 18 and 17 respectively, according to the Israeli Prime Minister's office. They are Bedouin Arab citizens of Israel and among four members of their family taken hostage while milking cows on a farm.

As part of the agreement, 30 Palestinians were released from prison, the Israeli Prison Service said. Israel and Hamas agreed to add a seventh day of humanitarian pause on Thursday, while Egyptian and Qatari mediators worked on negotiating a further two-day extension, Egypt's official state news agency announced.

With fewer Israeli women and children remaining in captivity, extending the truce could require setting new conditions for the release of Israeli men, including soldiers.

So far, during the truce, Hamas has released 105 hostages, and Israel has released 240 Palestinians.