Hamas frees 17 more hostages under ceasefire deal
Hamas militants have freed 17 more hostages, including 14 Israelis and three foreign nationals, in a third set of releases under a ceasefire deal.
Red Cross representatives transferred the hostages out of Gaza late on Sunday. Some were handed over directly to Israel while others left through Egypt.
The army said one of the hostages was airlifted directly to an Israeli hospital.
Israel was to free 39 Palestinian prisoners later on Sunday as part of the deal.
It was the third consecutive day in which Hamas released Israeli hostages being held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
A fourth exchange is expected to take place on Monday – the last day of the four-day ceasefire between the enemies. A total of 50 hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners are to be freed.
Israel declared war on Hamas after the Islamic militant group carried out a cross-border attack on October 7 that killed some 1,200 people and took 240 people hostage.
An Israeli offensive in Gaza has left over 13,300 people dead, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run territory.
International mediators led by the US and Qatar are trying to extend the ceasefire.
