Jerusalem, Israel– Thirty Palestinian civilians were freed overnight Thursday, the Israeli authorities said, in the latest exchange under an extended truce deal due to expire within hours.
The civilians — including 23 minors and seven women — were released hours after eight Israeli hostages were freed by the Palestinian fighters group Hamas.
The truce agreement between Israel and Hamas stipulates that a minimum of 10 Israeli hostages should be released alive each day.
But a source close to Hamas told AFP that two Russian-Israeli women freed on Wednesday in addition to 10 others made up for only eight Israelis being released on Thursday.
Mediator Qatar appeared to back the calculation.
Since it came into force on November 24, the truce agreement has resulted in the freeing of 110 hostages, including 80 Israelis.
The majority of the 30 non-Israeli hostages freed were from Thailand, released under a separate agreement.
Israel has freed 240 Palestinian civilians in exchange.
