Summary

  • Israel says 12 more freed hostages - 10 of its own citizens and two Thai nationals - have left Gaza and are now in Israeli territory

  • Prison officials in Israel also say they've released another 30 Palestinians - joining 150 others, mostly women and teenage boys, who've been freed since Friday

  • Tuesday was the fifth day of the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas, after a 48-hour extension was agreed

  • The son of Ada Sagi, who turned 75 while being held in Gaza, told the BBC he was "over the moon" at her release

  • Palestinian prisoners have alleged mistreatment while in Israeli jails. A 14-year-old boy said he witnessed beatings; Israel has not commented

  • Hamas crossed the border and killed 1,200 people in Israel on 7 October, with about 240 taken hostage

  • Since then, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says more than 14,500 people have been killed in Israel's retaliatory campaign

  1. Thai deputy PM travels to Israel to bring back freed hostagespublished at 06:47 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2023

    Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-NukaraImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara

    Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara is enroute to Israel to bring home the 17 Thai hostages freed since the truce started.

    Parnpree, who is also Thailand's foreign minister, is expected to arrive in Israel in less than three hours.

    While in Israel, he will visit three Thai nationals who were hospitalised for injuries they sustained during the October 7 attack by Hamas. The deputy PM will also meet with other Thai workers employed in Israel, Thailand's foreign ministry said.

    Parnpree and the 17 hostages are expected to be back in Bangkok slightly past noon local time on Thursday.

    Fifteen Thai nationals are still being held by Hamas, according to tallies previously provided by Thai officials.

  2. 'Wounds of war are jarring' - UNICEF aid workerpublished at 06:34 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2023

    A neighbourhood in Gaza heavily damaged by Israeli attacksImage source, Getty
    Image caption,

    A neighbourhood in Gaza heavily damaged by Israeli attacks

    UNICEF spokesperson James Elder spoke to BBC's Newshour about the devastation he has observed in Gaza as his convoy delivers desperately-needed supplies during the truce.

    "I spend my days in centres where tens of thousands of people have been displaced. The wounds of war on children are scarring and jarring.

    Yesterday I went up north with a convoy of absolutely critical aid. The places, the buildings, people's faces, are just riddled with distress and trauma, whether it's just the broken concrete and the devastation, or the anxiety of people who have lost everything," he said.

    He added that many Gazans are still moving southward, as per the evacuation directive, although they don't know their destination.

    "They do not have anywhere safe to go," Elder said.

  3. Peace with Hamas 'impossible' - former Israeli ambassadorpublished at 06:01 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2023

    Peace and Hamas "don't go together", says Mark Regev, Israel's former ambassador to the UK.

    "It is impossible to have peace with Hamas and they have said so publicly," Regev told BBC's Newshour programme on Monday evening.

    He was likely referring to a comment earlier this month from Taher El-Nounou, a Hamas media adviser - he told the New York Times that the group hopes war with Israel "will become permanent on all the borders".

    "And that's why the Israeli public is 100% united in saying we refuse to live any longer next to this terror enclave on our southern border. And we have to talk about a future without Hamas," Regev said.

    When asked if Israel will support rebuilding in the Gaza Strip, which has been extensively destroyed by Israel's retaliatory bombing, Regev said his country's budget is focused on rebuilding communities in southern Israel.

    He added that he expects that many international partners will be willing to finance Gaza's rebuilding efforts.

    "It doesn't have to be Israeli money... This is not a war that we started or that we wanted, as you know. Hamas bears responsibility for the outbreak of hostilities," he said.

    Former Israeli ambassador to the UK Mark RegevImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Former Israeli ambassador to the UK Mark Regev

  4. Is a longer ceasefire likely?published at 05:44 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2023

    Lucy Williamson
    Reporting from Jerusalem

    Many people are wondering if the two-day extension of the truce in Gaza could pave the way for a longer ceasefire.

    It depends on what Hamas has to offer. They need to release 10 hostages each day to keep the truce going.

    The hostages are also scattered throughout Gaza. They are being held not just by Hamas, but by several other factions and groups as well. And they are not always easy to reach, so it's a very complicated situation.

    If this two-day extension happens smoothly - and Hamas can come up with more names - I have not heard anything from either side to say that a further extension would not be considered.

    But Israel has said it has a limit to how long it's prepared to roll over any extension. And it has also been very clear that once that process comes to an end, it will go back to the war with full strength.

    And Israel's key goal, it says, is to eliminate Hamas.

  5. Boy, 12, returns to his mother and sisterspublished at 05:39 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2023

    Eitan Yahalomi, 12, who was released after being taken hostage during the October 7 attackImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Eitan Yahalomi was held hostage away from his family

    Eitan Yahalomi, 12, was the final Israeli hostage to be released on Monday.

    He has been described as a child who loves football - and has played the sport since he was in the first grade.

    He was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz by Hamas on one moped, and his mother Bat-Sheva and two sisters on another.

    Bat-Sheva, who is a French national, told a press conference that she managed to escape with her daughters but that she lost sight of Eitan as he was driven towards Gaza.

    Bat-Sheva's husband Ohad was shot and injured earlier, as he tried to defend the family in their home, and is still missing.

  6. Elderly hostage was denied life-saving medication, IDF claimspublished at 05:25 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2023

    Israeli Defence Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari during a press conference

    Earlier we heard from IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari, who called on the international community, including the Red Cross, to make sure hostages are receiving the medical care they need.

    During a press conference, he spoke about 84-year-old Elma Avraham, who was airlifted to Soroka hospital in Beersheba in a serious condition on Sunday.

    "She was kept in harsh conditions and was denied life-saving medication. She was not visited by the Red Cross".

    Speaking about the hostages that remain in Gaza, he said: "We call on the international organisations, especially the Red Cross, to use every tool at their disposal to gain access to our hostages, to make sure they're receiving the medical care they need."

    We will rescue our hostages at all costs. It is our duty and it is our moral responsibility of the Israeli Defence Forces."

    Earlier, as it announced the release of 11 hostages, the Red Cross said: "The ICRC was not involved in the negotiations, and its role has been to facilitate the agreement as a neutral intermediary." More on the Red Cross's role in hostage releases here.

  7. Qatar 'hopeful we can work towards longer pause'published at 05:11 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2023

    Dr Majed Al Ansari speaking live on BBC News

    Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari spoke to BBC News earlier about the agreement to extend the humanitarian truce for a further two days. Qatar has been mediating the hostage release talks between Israel and Hamas.

    He confirmed that Hamas has committed to releasing a further 20 hostages as part of the extended temporary ceasefire.

    Asked whether he thought the deal could be extended beyond the two days, he said: "We are quite hopeful. Reaching the agreement to have a four-day pause was not an easy feat.

    "We spent a lot of hard time negotiating for the agreement to this humanitarian pause.

    "Now that we have the extension in place for two days we are optimistic we can work towards a more sustainable pause for both sides."

  8. Where we are nowpublished at 00:21 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2023

    Palestinian Muhammad Abu Al-Humus, former prisoner released from the Israeli jail in exchange for hostages freed by Hamas in Gaza, kisses his mother upon return to his home in east Jerusalem, on November 28, 2023.Image source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Muhammad Abu Al-Humus, a former prisoner released by Israel, kissed his mother upon returning to his home in east Jerusalem on Monday night

    For a fourth successive night, a batch of Israeli hostages has been exchanged for a group of Palestinian prisoners under the temporary truce between Hamas and Israel.

    The 33 Palestinians were freed from Israeli jails after midnight local time. Earlier Hamas had released 11 Israeli captives, dual nationals of France, Germany or Argentina.

    On Monday Qatari mediators announced a two-day extension of the truce, covering Tuesday and Wednesday. The White House confirmed the prolongation but Israel still hasn't done so.

    The UN has used the lull in fighting to increase urgent aid deliveries to Gazans but has warned the consignments are a drop in the ocean.

    Gazans have been using the pause in fighting to get supplies and move across the territory – in many cases to return to their homes, and to assess the damage and look for winter clothes as the weather turns rainy and windy.

    Eitan Yahalomi, 12, walks with his mother at the Kerem Shalom border crossing,Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Former hostage Eitan Yahalomi, 12, walks with his mother at the Kerem Shalom border crossing after being freed on Monday

  9. 'Things are progressing' - Israeli militarypublished at 00:11 Greenwich Mean Time 28 November 2023

    We haven't had any official confirmation from Israel on the extension of the four-day truce, which Qatar, the US and Hamas all say has been agreed.

    In a press briefing this evening, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said: "Nothing is final until it actually happens. Things are progressing, tonight as well, but patience is required."

    He continued: "Beloved families, the tremendous pressure you are under, the stress and uncertainty during these hours of waiting is constantly at the top of our mind. Our hearts go out to you. It is our duty to bring home all the kidnapped and missing people, either through the continuation of this framework, or through the continuation of the next stages of the war."

  10. Bus carrying Palestinian prisoners arrives in West Bank - Reuterspublished at 23:57 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2023

    Reuters news agency is reporting that a bus carrying the newly released Palestinian prisoners has arrived in Ramallah, in the West Bank.

    Images from Monday evening showed people in the Palestinian city waiting for the bus to arrive. Some were carrying Hamas flags, with their faces covered.

    A Palestinian holds Hamas flags while waiting for the release of prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages held by Hamas, in Ramallah in the occupied West BankImage source, Getty Images
  11. Israel adds 50 names to list of Palestinian prisoners who can be freedpublished at 23:44 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2023

    We're now hearing from the office of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    It says the government has approved more Palestinian prisoners to be freed from Israeli prisons in the event that a release of more Israeli hostages is carried out by Hamas.

    This next batch of 50 people are all female, the short statement says.

  12. Israel releases 33 more Palestinian prisonerspublished at 23:30 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2023
    Breaking

    More Palestinian detainees have now been released from Israeli prisons, according to various news agencies.

    Citing Hamas-affiliated media, Reuters says those freed are 30 children and three women.

    The AFP news agency, quoting the Israeli prison authority, says 33 prisoners have been let go. It doesn't specify how many are children and women.

    Earlier, Hamas and Qatar both said 33 Palestinians were due to be released - 30 children and three women.

    It comes as part of the truce agreed by Israel and Hamas, which includes a pause in fighting and has been extended by another two days.

  13. Listen: The social media battles in the Israel-Hamas conflictpublished at 23:14 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2023

    BBC podcast The Global StoryImage source, .

    The Israel-Hamas war isn't only being fought on the ground. There’s a battle online to control the narrative and influence opinions.

    In today's episode of The Global Story - a new daily BBC podcast - we look at why the battle on your social media feed matters, with international correspondent Lyse Doucet and disinformation correspondent Marianna Spring, who's done an investigation on what's happening on TikTok and X.

  14. Brother and sister arrive back in Israel to be greeted by mumpublished at 22:23 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2023

    Erez Kalderon, 12, who was released after being taken hostage during the October 7 attackImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Erez Kalderon, 12

    Siblings Erez Kalderon, 12, and Sahar Kalderon, 16, were taken by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz alongside their father Ofer Kalderon, 53. Their father has not been released by Hamas.

    A video on social media appeared to show Erez being taken by gunmen towards Gaza, their relative Ido Dan told the BBC last month.

    Sahar has been described as "kind and charming" and "very close to her grandmother, Carmela Dan", who was killed during the 7 October attack.

    Erez, meanwhile, is described by the group of hostages' families as having "an amazing sense of humour, very cynical, like a stand-up comedian.

    "You can’t fool him - he reads between the lines and picks up on everything."

    When the children reach Israel, it is expected they will be greeted by their mother Hadas Kalderon, who escaped unharmed during the attack and has campaigned for their return.

    Sahar Kalderon, 16Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Sahar Kalderon, 16

  15. Hostage escaped Hamas and hid in Gaza for four days, aunt sayspublished at 22:13 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2023

    An International Red Cross vehicle carrying Israeli Russian hostage Ron Krivoy released by Hamas drives towards the Rafah border point with Egypt ahead of a transfer to Israel on November 26, 2023.Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Roni Krivoi, 25, had been working as a sound engineer at the Supernova music festival

    We've still got more to bring you from the hostages released tonight - but more details have emerged about one of the hostages released yesterday, 25-year-old Roni Krivoi, a dual Israeli-Russian national.

    Krivoi lives in Karmiel, northern Israel, and had been working as a sound engineer at the Supernova music festival when he was kidnapped by Hamas during the 7 October attack.

    His aunt has now given an interview to Israeli media with some extraordinary details of his time being held hostage in Gaza, where she claims her nephew managed to escape from captivity briefly.

    Speaking to Kan Bet, a radio station which offers news and current affairs, she explained how Krivoi escaped after an IDF attack on the building where he was being held.

    He hid alone in Gaza for four days before he was found and recaptured, she said.

    The Times of Israel, external reports that the 25-year-old was released on Sunday as a gesture by Hamas toward Russian President Vladimir Putin - not as part of the four-day temporary ceasefire.

  16. Watch: Conditions worsen in Gaza with cold and wet weatherpublished at 22:03 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2023

    Over to Gaza for a moment, where there has been heavy rain in recent days and the temperature has dropped.

    Our reporter there, Adnan El-Bursh, said conditions are very bad - especially for the displaced families living in tents who haven't got enough warm clothes.

    "I saw many of them go back to their destroyed homes to look for old clothes and blanket covers under the rubble". You can watch his report from Gaza above.

  17. Blinken to visit Israel and West Bank again this weekpublished at 21:51 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2023

    Away from the hostage release for the moment, we've just heard that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit the Middle East again later this week.

    He will visit Israel and the West Bank - and will discuss getting continued aid into Gaza, secure the release of all hostages and "improve protections for civilians in Gaza".

    It is his third trip to the region since the Israel-Hamas war began.

  18. Breast cancer survivor and daughters releasedpublished at 21:45 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2023

    Karina Engel-Bart, 51, and her daughters Mika Engel, 18, and Yuval Engel, 11Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Karina and her daughters Mika, 18, and Yuval, 11

    Karina Engel-Bart, 52, was kidnapped together with her daughters Mika Engel, 18, and Yufal Engel, 11, from their home in Nir Oz. Their father Ronen Engel, 55, who was also kidnapped, remains in Gaza.

    A spokesperson from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum has described Yuval, is who is known as "Yuvi", as an "energetic ball of laughs".

    Older sister Mika has been described as "beloved everywhere she goes".

    "She loves animals and receives therapy for PTSD stemming from bombardments she experienced since she was a young child," the hostages' families group said.

    Karina had recently recovered from breast cancer after two years of treatments and surgeries. "Unfortunately, she and her family were just returning to routine when they were kidnapped."

  19. Teenage brothers Or and Yagil back in Israelpublished at 21:36 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2023

    16-year-old Or Yaakov was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7Image source, Handout
    Image caption,

    13-year-old Yagil Yaakov

    Also among those released are brothers Or, and Yagil Yaacov. They were kidnapped on October 7 along with their father Yair Yaakov and his partner Meirav Tal, both of whom are is still being held.

    Or is 16-years-old while Yagil turned 13 while being held captive.

    The children's mother, Ranana, was on the phone with them when Hamas arrived, and heard her youngest son cry: "Don't take me, I'm too young!".

    Liat Bell Sommer, a spokesperson for the Hostages and Missing Families Forum headquarters described 16-year-old Or as having a "delicate and sensitive soul, attuned to others’ feelings, polite, quiet, and introverted."

    She added that Yagil loves "being the center of attention and is always surrounded by his friends".

  20. Three-year-old twin sisters and their mum among those releasedpublished at 21:28 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2023

    Sharon Aloni Cunio and her twin daughters, Emma and Yuli, were held hostage for 52 daysImage source, Handout
    Image caption,

    Sharon Aloni Cunio and her twin daughters, Emma and Yuli, were held hostage for 52 days

    In the last hour, we've had confirmation that 11 more hostages have arrived into Israel, after 52 days being held captive by Hamas in Gaza. Among them are Sharon Aloni Cunio and her twin daughters, Emma and Yuli. Sharon’s husband, David, and his brother Ariel, are still believed to be held captive.

    The family were kidnapped in the attack on 7 October, when they had taken shelter in a safe room. Hamas had then set fire to the house, and the family were captured as they tried to escape the flames. They were kidnapped along with Sharon's sister Daniele Aloni and her daughter - both who were released on Friday.

    In a statement, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum - made up of families of hostages - said the twins Emma and Yuli were the loves of Sharon's lives.

    Emma is "an open-hearted and amazing child, full of love. A true kibbutz girl who prefers trucks and mechanical tools over dolls," while her sister Yuli "was shy, and in the weeks before her kidnapping she became more open and smiley to her surroundings".

    The group said that Sharon met her husband David when working in public relations for a movie in which he starred. "The two fell in love and have been together ever since,” the statements said.

    The three year-old twins Emma and Yuli were kidnapped on October 7 by Hamas and held hostage for 52 daysImage source, Handout
    Image caption,

    The three year-old twins Emma and Yuli were among the youngest hostages kidnapped on 7 October