Hamas releases six hostages as ceasefire deadline approaches

Hamas has released the last six hostages expected under the first phase of its ceasefire with Israel. This includes three Israeli men taken during the October 7 attack and two others held for a decade. The release comes amid uncertainty about the ceasefire's future. The release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners was delayed due to Israeli security consultations. Hamas plans to release four more bodies next week, completing the first phase. Negotiations for the next phase have not yet begun and are expected to be challenging. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is focused on returning all hostages while continuing military operations against Hamas. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties and destruction in Gaza, with over 48,000 Palestinians reported killed.