The truce is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas, whose Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel sparked the fighting.

Hamas was set to free three more Israeli hostages and five Thai captives on Thursday, and Israel was expected to release another 110 Palestinian prisoners, in the third such exchange since a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took hold earlier this month.

Hamas is due to free three Israeli hostages on Thursday in return for the release of more than 100 Palestinian prisoners, in the third exchange under a fragile truce that took effect in Gaza this month.