By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
JERUSALEM/GAZA (Worthy News) – Hamas said Thursday that 10 more Israeli hostages would be released from the Gaza Strip late Thursday, two of them also holding Russian citizenship, as part of a one-day truce extension.
Previous statements by the sides had said eight hostages and three bodies would be returned Thursday, Worthy News learned.
It came while Hamas, deemed a terrorist organization by Israel, claimed responsibility for acts of terrorism, including in Jerusalem, where three people, including a rabbi, were killed in a shooting attack on Thursday.
Separately, two Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers were lightly wounded in a ramming attack at the Beka’ot Checkpoint in the Jordan Valley on Thursday afternoon, the IDF said. It added that the “suspected terrorist” was apprehended.
The attacks came despite the extended ceasefire for another day in Gaza, with Qatar outlining its terms.
The extension came after IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari announced on Wednesday that “three Palestinian terrorists were eliminated” in the Gaza Strip after “violating the ceasefire and posing a threat to Israeli forces.”
The tensions underscored the difficulties in ending the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began after Hamas gunmen killed some 1,200 people in Israel and took about 240 others hostage.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Millions of Ukrainians spent Christmas without electricity after Russian strikes on energy infrastructure killed civilians and triggered widespread power outages, Ukrainian officials said.
Christmas Eve passed with little public observance across much of China this year as authorities under the Chinese Communist Party intensified restrictions on religious gatherings, public celebrations, and even seasonal decorations, according to pastors, Christians, and residents who spoke to The Epoch Times.
A coalition of 19 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia has filed a lawsuit challenging new federal restrictions on so-called “gender-affirming” medical treatments for minors, arguing the policy unlawfully threatens health care access and state Medicaid programs.
A booming stock market propelled California’s main state retirement fund to near-record returns, but the fund is still $166 billion short on its obligations, according to the Reason Foundation. With the taxpayer-funded Legislative Analyst’s Office warning the state should be ready for a possible stock market peak and downturn as weak economic conditions persist, the 12-figure pension shortfall could widen once again – and leave taxpayers with the bill.
Talks between Israel and Syria over a potential security agreement have advanced significantly in recent weeks and could be finalized soon, according to an exclusive report by i24NEWS citing a Syrian source close to Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa.
Israeli security forces announced Thursday that the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet eliminated a senior operative in Iran’s Quds Force during a strike in northeastern Lebanon.
The United States carried out a targeted military strike against Islamic State terrorists in northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day, acting in coordination with Nigerian authorities, U.S. President Donald Trump announced in a series of social media posts.