An initial group of 24 hostages has been released as a truce between Israel and Hamas the first in weeks of fighting appears to be holding. Follow for live updates.
Filipino among hostages released by Hamas tribune.net.ph - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from tribune.net.ph Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Hamas fighters were set to release a second group of hostages Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, officials said, as a truce largely held in the devastated Gaza Strip after seven weeks of war that killed thousands of people.
The Israel-Hamas war has now entered its 50th day. The Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7, killing around 1,200 people, injuring thousands, and taking over 200 people as hostages back to Gaza. Hamas stated that a group of 13 hostages were handed over as part of the temporary truce on Friday (Nov 24).