12 more hostages transferred over to Israeli custody

Israel said that 12 more hostages have been freed by Hamas and released to the Red Cross.

The hostages arrived in Egypt Tuesday night.

The Israeli Army said 10 Israelis and two foreigners held hostage in Gaza were part of the latest group that was released.

Tuesday marks the fifth day of a temporary cease-fire in the Middle East.

Hamas released 9 women and a 17-year-old teenager late on Tuesday evening, the Israeli army said.

The hostages are expected to be flown to hospitals in Israel, where they will be reunited with their families.

About an hour later, Israel released 30 Palestinian prisoners.

Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend their cease-fire until Wednesday, raising the prospect of further exchanges. Since Friday, Hamas has released 81 hostages, mostly Israeli nationals, while Israel has freed 180 Palestinian prisoners.

An extended cease-fire would allow more aid into Gaza, which has been battered by weeks of Israeli siege and bombardment that has driven three out of every four people in Gaza from their homes. The territory is home to 2.3 million people.

Israel says it remains committed to crushing Hamas’ military capabilities and ending the group's 16-year rule over Gaza. That would likely mean expanding a ground offensive from devastated northern Gaza into the south.

Roughly 240 hostages were captured by Hamas in its Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel that ignited the war. More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza. About 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, mostly during the initial incursion by Hamas.

Editor's Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.