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Israel-Hamas hostage deal: What do we know on day five of the truce?
- In all, 50 Israeli hostages have been released under the truce deal, with another 19 hostages freed under separate agreements, including Thai workers and a dual Russian-Israeli citizen.
- In exchange, 150 Palestinian prisoners have been released by Israel.
- Hamas said it was now drawing up lists of additional hostages to be released, though the process is reportedly complicated by the fact that some are held by other Palestinian militant groups operating inside Gaza.
- US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that 'in order to extend the pause, Hamas has committed to releasing another 20 women and children'.
- Israel views the truce as temporary to secure hostage releases and plans to continue its war, with the government agreeing a 30.3 billion shekel ($8.2 billion) war budget that will now go to parliament.
- But it faces increasing pressure for a more lasting ceasefire and the ramp-up of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
UN: More than 1.8 million Gazans displaced
Israel's bombardment and ground offensive have displaced more than 1.8 million people, nearly 80% of Gaza's population, with most having sought refuge in the south, according to the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs.
Israeli troops have barred people from returning to the north during the cease-fire.
Hundreds of thousands of people have packed into UN-run schools and other facilities, with many forced to sleep on the streets outside because of overcrowding. It's unclear where they would go if Israel expands its ground operation, as Egypt has refused to accept refugees and Israel has sealed its border.
It is feared Israel will expand its offensive if or when the temporary truce currently in place ends.
Freed hostage describes 'suffocating' conditions in Hamas captivity
The hostages freed from Gaza have mostly stayed out of the public eye, but details of their captivity have started to emerge.
In one of the first interviews with a freed hostage, 78-year-old Ruti Munder told Israel's Channel 13 television that she was initially fed well in captivity but that conditions worsened as shortages took hold.
She said she was kept in a 'suffocating' room and slept on plastic chairs with a sheet for nearly 50 days.
Yesterday, we looked at what had been said so far about the conditions that hostages inside Gaza were kept in by the Hamas terror group.
Click the link below to read the full story:
Israel-Hamas war day 53: What you need to know
Good morning and welcome to MailOnline's liveblog covering the on-going war between Israel and Hamas, which today entered its 53rd day.
A truce between the two sides entered its fifth day today after an agreement was struck on Monday to extend it until the end of Wednesday.
Hamas has promised to release more hostages in exchange for the release Palestinian prisoners, and to delay the resumption of the war.
The terror group released 11 more hostages last night. However, Israel said Hamas had handed ten-month-old Kfir Bibas to a separate Palestinian terror group in the southern city of Khan Younis. You can read the full story here.
After four groups of hostages were released over the last four days, Hamas and other terror groups are still holding about 160 people in Gaza, out of the 240 seized in their October 7 assault into southern Israel that ignited the war.
Israel's retaliatory ground and air operation in Gaza has killed almost 15,000 people, mostly civilians, according to the territory's Hamas government.
Follow along for more updates...
Key Updates
Israel-Hamas war day 53: What you need to know
English (US)