Hamas exchanges more hostages to Israel for jailed Palestinians on 3rd day of temporary truce

The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was back on track Sundayas the militants freed 17 more hostages and in turn, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners, all young men.

It was the third exchange under a four-day truce that the U.S. says it hopeswill be extended.

Hundreds of Israelis draped in flags cheered as freed hostages, waving, arrived at an air force base.Some hostages were handed over directly to Israel, while others left through Egypt.

The hostages released by Hamasranged in age from fourto 84, and includedAbigail Edan, a four-year-old Israeli-American girl whose parents were killed in the attack that started the war on Oct. 7.

In all, nine children ages 17 and younger were on the list, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.Three more Thai nationals were released.

Arelative of some of the Israeli hostages, Aharon Brodutch, spoke to CBC's Rosemary Barton Live about his hopes that hissister-in-law and her three children a 10-year-old daughter and sons, ages eight and four wouldbe released soon.

The fourwere kidnapped by Hamasduring an attackon their kibbutz, Kfar Azaon Oct. 7.The Canadian Israeli says he recently flew to Israel as he and his brotheranxiously waitfor news of their safe return.

"I think the fight is not over until every last hostage is out, and hopefully it can all be done in one go," Brodutchsaid.

"I don't understand the politics of the situation, but I'm hoping that it does continue and that we get everyone out."

Separately,dozens of Palestinians returned to a hero's welcome in the West Bank on Sunday after being released from Israeli prisons.

The 39 young men, wearing grey prison garb, were welcomed by several hundred well-wishers in central Ramallah. The crowd hoisted the men on their shoulders. Many waved victory signs and held green Hamas flags.

Possible truce extension

A fourth exchange is expected on Monday the last day of the ceasefire during which a total of 50 hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners are to be freed.

International mediators led by the U.S. and Qatar are trying to extend the ceasefire.

Hamas said it wanted to extend the truce if serious efforts were made to increase the number of Palestinian detainees released by Israel.

The Israeli army's chief spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said it was open to extending the ceasefire if more hostages are released.

WATCH | What's next for the Israel-Hamas truce:

Whats next for the Israel-Hamas truce

11 months ago

Duration 7:50

As Israel and Hamas begin a four-day ceasefire, global affairs expert Janice Stein and hostage negotiations expert Dan OShea talk to Ian Hanomansing about whats next for the war, as well as the remaining hostages and detainees.

Israel earlier said the truce can be extended by an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed, but has vowed to quickly resume its offensive once it ends.

Ahead of the latest release, Netanyahu visited the Gaza Strip, where he spoke with troops.It was not immediately clear where he went inside Gaza.

"At the end of the day we will return every one," he said of the hostages, adding that "we are continuing until the end, until victory. Nothing will stop us."

This is the first significant pause in seven weeks of war, marked by the deadliest Israeli-Palestinian violence in decades.

More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, roughly two-thirds of them women and minors, according to the Hamas-runHealth Ministryin Gaza. The war has claimed more than 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians killed in the initial attack, Israel says.

Hamas commander killed

In a separate development, Hamas announced that one of its top commanders had been killed, without saying when or how. Israel's military confirmed it.

Ahmed al-Ghandour, who was in charge of northern Gaza and a member of its top military council, is the highest-ranking militant known to have been killed in the fighting.

Al-Ghandour, believed to have been around 56 years old, had survived at least three Israeli attempts on his life and was involved in a 2006 cross-border attack during which Palestinian militants captured an Israeli soldier, according to the Counter Extremism Project, an advocacy group based in Washington.

Hamas said al-Ghandourwas killed along with three other senior militants, including Ayman Siam, who Israel says was in charge of Hamas's rocket-firing unit.

The Israeli military mentioned both men in a Nov. 16 statement, saying it had targeted an underground complex where Hamas leaders were hiding. The Israeli military claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence, including several mid-ranking commanders that it has identified by name.

Aid, respite comes to Gaza

The pause has given some respite to Gaza's 2.3 million people, still reeling from relentless Israeli bombardment that has driven three-quarters of the population from their homes and levelled residential areas. Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel also went silent.

War-weary Palestinians in northern Gaza, where the offensive has focused, returned to the streets. Entire city blocks in and around Gaza City have been gutted by airstrikes that hollowed out buildings and left drifts of rubble.

In southern Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people from the north have sought refuge, residents lined up outside gas stations, hoping to stock up on fuel. Palestinians who have tried to return to the north to see if their homes are intact have been turned back by Israeli troops.

"Many are desperate to return to their homes, but they open fire on anyone approaching from the south," said Rami Hazarein, who fled from Gaza City last month.

The Israeli military has ordered Palestinians not to return to the north or approach within a kilometreof the border fence. The Palestinian Red Crescent rescue service said that Israeli forces opened fire Sunday on two farmers in central Gaza, killing one and wounding the other. It didn't provide further details. An Israeli military spokesperson said they weren't aware of the incident.

The United Nations said the truce has made it possible to scale up the delivery of food, waterand medicine to the largest volume since the start of the war, though it still hasn't reached pre-war levels. It was able to deliver fuel for the first time since the war beganand to reach areas in the north for the first time in a month.