Hamas needs to track down dozens of hostages in Gaza before it can extend the current ceasefire, Qatar’s prime minister has said.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told the Financial Times that Hamas cannot agree an extension to the current ceasefire until it locates 40 women and children who are allegedly being held by civilians, gangs and other Islamist groups.

“We don’t yet have any clear information how many they can find because . . . one of the purposes [of the pause] is they [Hamas] will have time to search for the rest of the missing people,” he said.

Hamas has told Qatar that it did not capture any civilians on October 7, instead blaming it on other Islamist groups and opportunistic Palestinian civilians.

Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will extend the current four-day ceasefire by one day for every 10 additional hostages that are released.

But the Qatari prime minister’s comments will cast doubt on whether Hamas can provide the hostages necessary to keep its side of the bargain.

10:01 PM GMT

Thank you for following the blog

That’s it for our live coverage of the war in Gaza today. Join us again tomorrow for all the latest.

10:00 PM GMT

Today’s headlines:

• Five senior Hamas commanders were killed by Israeli forces

• Boris Johnson and his family were among hundreds of thousands who attended an anti-Semitism march in London

• Hamas released 13 Israelis, three Thais and one Russian-Israeli

• Those freed included Abigail Idan, 4, an American-Israeli whose parents were murdered on October 7

• Elma Avraham, 84, was airlifted to hospital and is said to be “very sick”

• Israel released 39 prisoners from its jails in exchange for the 17 hostages

• The US said the Red Cross will visit all hostages who are not being released

• Joe Biden said he wanted to extend the ceasefire

• Benjamin Netanyahu said he would do so by one day for every 10 new hostages released

• Qatar said Hamas does not know where many hostages are

09:43 PM GMT

Ceasefire will be extended if more hostages released, Netanyahu tells Biden

Benjamin Netanyahu has told Joe Biden that he is open to extending Israel’s ceasefire with Hamas if it agrees to release more hostages.

“For every day, another 10,” the Israeli prime minister said after a call between the two leaders this evening.

The original Qatari-brokered deal allows the ceasefire to be extended by one day for every 10 extra hostages that are released.

The White House said the two leaders agreed during the call to “continue working to secure the release of all hostages”.

09:26 PM GMT

Hamas does not know where hostages are, Qatar says

Hamas will only be able to agree to an extended ceasefire with Israel if it finds out where other hostages are being held, Qatar’s prime minister has said.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told the Financial Times that there are 40 more women and children being held in Gaza by civilians, gangs and groups, not Hamas.

“If they get additional women and children, there will be an extension,” he said. “We don’t yet have any clear information how many they can find because . . . one of the purposes [of the pause] is they [Hamas] will have time to search for the rest of the missing people.”

Sheikh Mohammed said Hamas has told Qatar that its fighters did not capture civilians on October 7, blaming those abductions on other militant groups and opportunistic Palestinian civilians.

09:10 PM GMT

All 17 freed hostages have arrived at hospitals, reports CNN

CNN is reporting that all 17 hostages released to Israel today have now arrived at hospitals.

They will undergo tests and check-ups and be reunited with their families.

09:08 PM GMT

Israel was not responsible for Al Ahli explosion, Human Rights Watch says

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said a misfired Palestinian rocket and not an Israeli air strike was to blame for the fiercely disputed explosion at Gaza’s Al Ahli hospital on October 17.

Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said 471 people were killed in the blast, a figure which is disputed by Israel. A US intelligence report estimated the death toll “at the low end of the 100 to 300 spectrum”.

HRW said that a review of photos, videos, satellite imagery and testimony from experts and witnesses showed that the explosion “resulted from an apparent rocket-propelled munition, such as those commonly used by Palestinian armed groups”.

Hamas has rejected the findings, with senior official Basem Naim saying the report is “biased” towards Israel.

08:54 PM GMT

Watch: West Bank crowds welcome prisoner wearing Hamas bandana

Crowds in the West Bank city of Ramallah cheered and chanted as they welcomed a freed Palestinian prisoner with a green Hamas bandana tied around his head.

The man is one of 39 prisoners who were released by Israel today in exchange for the 17 hostages handed over by Hamas.

08:49 PM GMT

Helicopters arrive at Tel Aviv children's hospital

Two helicopters believed to be carrying freed hostages have landed at a Tel Aviv children’s hospital, US Correspondent David Millward reports.

The first aircraft arrived shortly before 8.30pm GMT (10.30pm local time) and the second landed at 8.45pm GMT (10.30pm local time).

08:42 PM GMT

Pictured: Hamas terrorists stand guard as hostages handed over

08:34 PM GMT

Thai hostages arrive at Tel Aviv hospital

The three Thai hostages who were released by Hamas today have arrived at the Assaf Harofeh hospital in Tel Aviv.

Israel’s foreign ministry said they will undergo physical and psychological tests at the hospital.

They will return to their families once they are discharged from hospital.

08:18 PM GMT

Netanyahu: Give us 10 extra hostages a day and we will extend truce

Benjamin Netanyahu has told Joe Biden that he would accept an extension to the temporary truce with Hamas if the terror group releases 10 additional hostages everyday.

The two leaders had a phone call this evening in which the Israeli prime minister also said Israel will resume its war in Gaza with full force when the truce ends.

The US president said earlier today that his goal is to keep the ceasefire going to get more hostages out of Gaza and more aid into it.

08:12 PM GMT

No words to express our relief, say Abigail Idan's family

The family of freed four-year-old Abigail Idan have “no words” to express their relief after she was released by Hamas, reports David Millward, US correspondent.

“We hoped and prayed today would come,” they said in a statement.

“There are no words to express our relief and gratitude that Abigail is safe and coming home”.

They also thanked Joe Biden and the Qatari government for their diplomatic assistance and added they continue to stand with families of all the hostages.

Mr Biden has spoken over the telephone with members of her family in the United States and Israel, his office said.

08:02 PM GMT

Pictured: Freed girls, 8 and 15, reunited with mother

This is the moment Dafna, 15, and Ela Elyakim, 8, were reunited this evening with their mother Maayan Zin.

The two sisters were with their father Noam in Nahal Oz, a kibbutz just 800 metres from the border with Gaza, when Hamas attacked on October 7.

Mr Elyakim was killed by the terrorists, possibly in front of their eyes.

Now after 51 days in captivity, the sisters have finally been reunited with their mother this evening after being released by Hamas.

07:55 PM GMT

Truce should be extended until all hostages released, says France

The truce between Israel and Hamas which has held in Gaza since Friday should be extended until all hostages are released, France’s foreign minister has said.

“We demand the release of our hostages and all the hostages,” Catherine Colonna told France’s BFMTV channel.

“It would be good, helpful and necessary for the truce to be extended to this end.”

She added: “There are lists drawn up during the negotiations through Qatar. Hamas makes its choices within these lists.”

07:38 PM GMT

Pictured: Freed hostages and those awaiting them

07:27 PM GMT

I couldn't believe it when I saw Abigail coming home, says grandfather

The grandfather of released American-Israeli hostage Abigail Idan, 4, has said he could not believe his eyes when he saw she was coming back from captivity.

“It was just wow, I didn’t believe it until I saw it,” Carmel Idan told reporters outside his home.

“Now I’m calm, but not completely calm because there is happiness, but there is also the absence of Roee and Smadar.”

Abigail’s parents were murdered by Hamas terrorists at their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7.

07:15 PM GMT

Hospitalised elderly hostage in 'life-threatening condition'

The elderly hostage who was airlifted to hospital after being released by Hamas is in a serious and life-threatening condition, Beersheba’s Soroka hospital has said.

It said in a short statement that she is in “poor physical condition and severe clinical condition”.

Elma Avraham, 84, was immediately taken to the hospital via helicopter when she was handed over to the IDF by the Red Cross, who acted as an intermediary.

07:00 PM GMT

Hamas wants to extend ceasefire

Hamas wants to extend the current ceasefire with Israel to secure the release of more prisoners, it said in a statement.

Fighting has been paused since Friday while Hamas releases hostages in exchange for Palestinians being held in Israeli prisons.

Hamas has released 53 hostages so far out of the approximately 240 it is thought to have taken in the October 7 attacks and Israel has released 117 prisoners.

06:52 PM GMT

In pictures: Hostages pictured on return to Israel

06:49 PM GMT

Freed hostages 'still traumatised', says cousin

Shiri Weiss, 53, and her daughter Noga, 18, who were freed on Saturday are still traumatised, David Millward, US Correspondent, reports.

Their cousin Adam Baker told CNN that there is also no news of Ilan Weiss, Noga’s father.

“There’s no body, there’s no official claim that he’s a hostage. That is worse than an open wound.”

Two other members of the family were murdered.

“I can only imagine it is going to be close to October 7 for them.

“It’s only the second chapter of the book, we don’t know how chapters it’s going to have get chapters it’s good to have not the end. It’s not the middle it’s just the beginning.”

Mr Baker added he had spoke to other cousins and Shiri and Noga “outwardly seemed fine”

06:47 PM GMT

Qatar's prime minister optimistic about extending ceasefire

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Qatar’s prime minister, is optimistic that the temporary truce could be extended, reports David Millward, US Correspondent.

“The agreement has a provision that if Hamas are... will be able to prove, to locate, and secure some of the hostages that are within the criteria of the first group, which is women and children, then it will be extended,” he said on CBS News Face the Nation.

“This is something we cannot confirm yet until we get to the fourth day, then Hamas should present the list if they are available with them,” he added.”

06:37 PM GMT

'Very sick' Israeli hostage rushed by helicopter to hospital

An elderly Israeli woman evacuated to hospital in a helicopter after being released by Hamas is “very sick”, Joe Biden has said.

“An older, non-American elderly woman is very sick and was in need of immediate medical help so they arranged to cross directly into Israel to be able to take her into hospital,” the US president said in a televised address.

IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the hostage, who has not been named, was “sent directly to hospital” after 13 Israelis were handed over by the Red Cross to Israeli soldiers.

06:30 PM GMT

Watch: Hundreds of Israelis cheer as hostages return

Hundreds of Israelis have lined roads to welcome hostages back from captivity, waving flags and cheering.

A convoy of vans is on its way to the Hatzerim airbase near Beersheba, where they will be reunited with their families.

06:02 PM GMT

Four other hostages now on Israeli soil

The three Thai and one Russian hostage who left Gaza via the Rafah crossing are now in Israel, the IDF has said.

It now means that all 17 hostages released today are back on Israeli soil.

“An elite unit of the IDF and a force of the Shin Bet are now escorting the four abductees in Israeli territory, including an Israeli citizen and three foreign nationals, who are at the Kerem Shalom crossing,” spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said.

“Those who return to Israel will be transferred directly to the hospitals.”

06:00 PM GMT

Watch: Biden celebrates the release of Abigail Mor Edan, 4

05:57 PM GMT

Israeli prison service: 39 prisoners freed

A total of 39 Palestinian prisoners have now been freed from Israel’s prisons as part of today’s hostage deal, the Israeli prison service has said.

05:44 PM GMT

AFP: Hamas willing to extend truce and release up to 40 more hostages

A source close to Hamas has said the terror group is willing to extend its truce with Israel in Gaza by “two to four days” and release “20 to 40” more hostages, the AFP news agency has reported.

“Hamas informed the mediators that the resistance movements were willing to extend the current truce by two to four days,” the source said.

“The resistance believes it is possible to ensure the release of 20 to 40 Israeli prisoners.”

05:42 PM GMT

Grandfather of freed children hostages speaks of happiness

An Israeli grandfather whose daughter-in-law and three grandchildren were released by Hamas today has spoken of his happiness at the news.

Samuel Brodetz said he would meet Hagar, 40, Ofri, 10, Yuval, 8, and Uriya, 4, “later tonight.

“The moment I heard they were in the hands of the Red Cross, I was relieved... I will meet them later tonight,” he told Israel’s Channel 13 News.

“I am very happy, but I feel a great commitment to the other families until the last captive returns, including IDF soldiers.”

05:37 PM GMT

Biden: I want the ceasefire to continue

Joe Biden has said he wants to see the ceasefire that has allowed hostages to be released by Hamas to continue beyond tomorrow, when it is due to finish.

“Critically needed aid is going in and hostages are coming out,” he said in a televised address.

“This deal is structured so that it can be extended to keep building on these results.

“That’s my goal, that’s our goal, to keep this pause going beyond tomorrow so that we can continue to see more hostages come out and surge more humanitarian relief into those in need in Gaza.”

05:32 PM GMT

Russian hostage Roni Krivoi arrives at Rafah

The freed Russian hostage Roni Krivoi has been pictured in a Red Cross vehicle at the Rafah border crossing after being released by Hamas.

05:30 PM GMT

We will not stop until every hostage freed, says Biden

Joe Biden has vowed to not stop working until every hostage has been freed.

“We will not stop working until every hostage is returned to their loved ones,” he said in a televised address.

05:14 PM GMT

Biden: I wish I was there to hold freed Abigail

Joe Biden has said he wishes he was “there to hold” freed four-year-old hostage Abigail Mor Idan.

“Thank God she’s home,” he said of the dual American-Israeli in a televised address.

“I guess [I] can’t imagine the enjoyment. I just wish I were there to hold her.”

He added: “What she endured is unthinkable.”

 

05:10 PM GMT

Pictured: Red Cross convoy at Rafah crossing