ELEVEN more Israeli hostages are set to be freed by Hamas tonight after spending an agonising 51 days in captivity.
Nine children and two mothers are “on their way” across the border with the help of the Red Cross as the truce has been reportedly extended by two extra days.
Today was supposed to be the final day of the truce but it is now expected to continue for 48 more hours with more hostages being released and reunited with their families soon.
Six more Thai nationals were also released through Egypt’s Rafah crossing as some went to hospital for routine checks.
In the exchange for the hostages, 33 Palestinians are due to be given, according to Hamas.
Of the 33, reports suggest 20 are children and three are women.
A mum and her three year-old twins are among the latest batch of Israeli hostages freed from Hamas hell in Gaza.
Sharon Konio, 34, was abducted with her children Emma and Yuli from a family dinner in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Sharon’s husband David is still being held captive.
Teenagers Ya’akov Yaacbv, 16, and his brother Yagil, 12, are also on their way back to Israel after being dragged from a bomb shelter in Nir Oz on October 7.
Yagil – who was seen in a horror terrorist video – was overheard on a phone call to his mother begging: “Don’t take me, I’m too small.”
Two more children Sahar, 16, and 12-year-old Erez Calderon were met by their relieved mother Hadas as she greeted the pair as they walked free.
The heartbreaking story of how Hadas found out her kids and husband Ofer had been kidnapped by the terrorists has gripped people from across the world recently.
The loving mum hid in a bomb shelter for eight hours before discovering her family had been snatched.
Hadas demanded her boys were released as she said: “The last message I got from them they told me they jumped from the window and ran from the house.
“I don’t know if they’re alive or murdered. These children are never away from me for more than two or three days, but now it’s been weeks.
“Hamas burn our souls, it’s hell.”
Ofer is still trapped in Hamas hands.
Eitan Yahalomi, 12, was also freed today after being described as a very sensitive child terrified by the sound of rockets.
Karina Engelbert, 52, and her two children Mika, 18, and 11-year-old Yuval have also been released.
The brave mother was still recovering from a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery when she was snatched from Nir Oz kibbutz.
Osnat Peri, the head of the kibbutz said: “The news this evening brings a sigh of relief to our community, however we remain deeply concerned about our loved ones that are still held hostage.
“We demand the return of all hostages, immediately, whatever it takes.”
On Sunday, Hamas freed 17 more hostages – 14 Israelis and three Thais – in a third exchange under the four-day truce.
In turn, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners.
Of the roughly 240 hostages captured by Hamas in its October 7 massacre in southern Israel that ignited the war, 62 have been released, one was freed by Israeli forces and two were found dead inside Gaza.
Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released.
Qatar, along with Egypt, has been the key mediator in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
“The State of Qatar announces, as part of the ongoing mediation, an agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian truce for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip,” Dr Majed al Ansari said.
A Hamas statement read: “The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas announces that it has been agreed with the brothers in Qatar and Egypt to extend the temporary humanitarian truce for an additional two days under the same conditions as the previous truce.”
The announcement comes on the final day of a four-day truce between the warring sides, as they were preparing for a fourth exchange of militant-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
It comes after the terror group claimed it does not know where dozens of child hostages are being held in Gaza.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani who is leading talks told the Financial Times: “If they [Hamas] get additional women and children, there will be an extension.
“We don’t yet have any clear information how many they can find because … one of the purposes [of the pause in fighting] is they [Hamas] will have time to search for the rest of the missing people.”
The claim was eyed with suspicion amid fears Hamas chiefs will use the ceasefire to regroup for more bloodshed.
The terror group also claimed again it did not kidnap any civilians – even though its members filmed themselves snatching defenceless hostages and dragging them back to Gaza during the massacre.
About 240 hostages, including Israeli soldiers and sick and elderly civilians, are understood to have taken hostage by the terror group and held in underground tunnels.
Last week Qatar brokered a deal to free 50 Israeli women and children in exchange for 150 Palestinians in Israeli prisons over the course of the four-day ceasefire.
Meanwhile, a four-year-old American hostage was reunited with her family seven weeks after her parents were killed during the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7.
The emotional reunion showed the moment Abigail Edan was embraced by her aunt and grandmother at the Hatzerim Air Force Base in Israel after two months in captivity by Hamas.
Emily Hand was also finally reunited with her big sister and two dogs in a heartwarming moment after she was held hostage for 50 days.
The Irish-Israeli, who was snatched from bed by Hamas on a sleepover on October 7, and was seen embraced by half-sister Natali and surrounded by her pups who couldn’t contain their excitement.
On Saturday, the young girl joined 20 other hostages who were set free by Hamas during a four-day truce in the war with Israel.
Her release came after a tense delay of several hours when Hamas accused Israel of failing to meet the terms of the agreement.
Emily was reunited with her dad in an Israeli hospital on Saturday following her release.
