welcome to bbc news — i'm lukwesa burak. breaking i'm lukwesa burak. news is our, a short time ago breaking news is our, a short time ago hamas has released a statement on telegram saying that they were seeking to ask seeing a truce with israel after the end of the four days with of of four. today the israeli military confirmed another hostages, including nine children and three foreign nationals were released by hamas. in the last few minutes 39 palestinians were released from israeli prisons. these are the latest pictures that we've received here at bbc news. you can

see some of those former prisoners, the palestinians on board that bus. making their way back into gaza and onwards. we're going to have more on this story across the program. first were going to take a closer look at some of the hostages that were released by hamas today. amongst the group were sisters, they were attacked at their home. the girls were part of a family group whose capture was live streamed by the attackers themselves. also for the first time today a us citizen was released. abigail idan was just three at the time that she was taken hostage. she spent her fourth birthday in captivity. her parents were attacked and killed by hamas gunmen during the october seventh

attacks. i'm joined now by anna foster who's in tel aviv. you've been following events throughout the day in the last few days. just take us through events taking place in the last few hours. let me talk you through what we seen today because the day actually began with more of a sense of anxiety that we've seen for the last few days. yesterday's exchange on day two was delayed for quite a few hours. it was only the very early hours of the morning when we finally got confirmation that the second group of israeli hostages had been released and the second group of palestinian detainees in is really jails have been freed. went the day began —— is reallyjails. people hoping for it to be a lot more smooth, more of like they've seen on friday than on saturday. things didn't seem to progress according to plan. there were some early

suggestions once again about foreign passport holders being released alongside the next group of israelis. we heard from various groups that the handover had taken place of 14 israelis in this particular group. they were handed over and two of the red cross, as is happened for the last few days was slightly different this time but we heard it discussed in a briefing from the israel defense forces was that in previous days the handover of israeli hostages from hamas to the red cross had happened in the southern part of gaza. today it happened in the north and that is the area where the fighting is at its most intense. it's the area where palestinians in gaza had been told to move away and told to move told to move away and told to move to the style of the strip. there had been, i think a lot of discussions about whether those hostages being held in a title network underneath gaza. i think it was also the

expectation that those hostages, still more than 200 or so being held in gaza were being held in different locations. we heard from the us presidentjoe biden that his was the first confirmation that actually the israeli hostages today did not leave through the raffle crossing as they had done for the last few days into egypt and then into israel. —— rafah crossing. one of those released hostages today we're told was ill and needed urgent medical treatment. for the first time the group of israeli hostages passed directly through into israel near one of the kibbutz that was attacked on the 7th of october. they have all now been received in israel. they are going to various medical centres in the country to receive treatment. not long after that we saw the final piece in the jigsaw each day, which is the release of palestinian prisoners being held in israeli

jails. 39 of them aged under 18. what we don't have as part of this exchange, and it's the same on both sides, were not the release of men. we're seeing only women and children. also in terms of palestinian detainees, were not seeing the release of anybody convicted of murder. the people who are being exchanged for those israeli hostages have been accused or convicted of crimes ranging from stone throwing through to attempted murder. again we saw a bus, a white coach moving from offered prison in the occupied west bank to the beitunia checkpoint and onto deliver those 39 palestinian miners back home. many going to occupied east jerusalem where families have been told by the israeli authorities that the public expressions of celebration are not allowed to happen. that is what has gone on

today. it's been the third day of this four day deal. i think they will be relief on both sides of the choreography, the logistics went smoothly and as planned. figs choreography, the logistics went smoothly and as planned. as part of those logistics _ smoothly and as planned. as part of those logistics was _ smoothly and as planned. as part of those logistics was also _ smoothly and as planned. as part of those logistics was also the - smoothly and as planned. as part of those logistics was also the aid - those logistics was also the aid that was allowed into gaza. could you take us through what was received?— you take us through what was received? , . ., ., . , received? this deal makes allowances for more humanitarian _ received? this deal makes allowances for more humanitarian aid _ received? this deal makes allowances for more humanitarian aid that - received? this deal makes allowances for more humanitarian aid that has - for more humanitarian aid that has passed through since the war began on the 7th of october. we see more than 200 trucks a day of aid go from egypt into gaza. interestingly, one of the delays was that hamas were unhappy with the amount of aid reaching the door out of the gaza strip. we're told today that more than 60 aid trucks to go north and take additional humanitarian aid into the north of the strip. also again, a key part of this was fueled. that is something that was not included. you remember when the rafah crossing first open to trucks

again and israel made it very clear that fuel was not something they want to pass through because they felt that hamas would take that fuel, not give it to the humanitarian population and use it instead in the efforts against the israeli military. part of this deal that was hammered out by guitar eight tankers every day, four containing diesel and format containing diesel and format containing cooking gas have been passing into gaza. —— containing cooking gas have been passing into gaza. -- qatarfor that we start long queues particularly in rafah, we saw people taking containers to be filled out. there was one gas station that had to close because it was so overwhelmed with the queues of people who arrive to try and get some of that aid. it is notjust been fuel, it's been food and water, the basics. things like medical supplies i spoke a little earlier to james dan's from save the children uk. he described a little bit more about that additional humanitarian aid going

into gaza. and whether or not it actually meets the need there, particularly in the north of the strip. over the last few days we've had some _ over the last few days we've had some incredibly positive scenes of children_ some incredibly positive scenes of children being reunited with their families — children being reunited with their families. obviously, tracking images of trucks _ families. obviously, tracking images of trucks crossing borders or if being — of trucks crossing borders or if being turned onto supply gaza isn't as dramatic but it is of course important _ as dramatic but it is of course important for weather tens of thousands of people survive or not over the _ thousands of people survive or not over the coming weeks as winter heads _ over the coming weeks as winter heads towards gaza. we know that the average _ heads towards gaza. we know that the average of _ heads towards gaza. we know that the average of trucks going into gaza was some — average of trucks going into gaza was some 500 ahead of the awful events— was some 500 ahead of the awful events on— was some 500 ahead of the awful events on the 7th of october. that number— events on the 7th of october. that number during this five day truce period _ number during this five day truce period is— number during this five day truce period is far less than that. some 300 and — period is far less than that. some 300 and that number hasn't been reached _ 300 and that number hasn't been reached on —

300 and that number hasn't been reached on any single day yet. between — reached on any single day yet. between the gap of what aid is needed — between the gap of what aid is needed and what trucks can actually deliver— needed and what trucks can actually deliver is— needed and what trucks can actually deliver is unfortunately human suffering. just remind us, this wasn't a humanitarian crisis in gaza which began on the events of october seven. many civilians living there were already living in desperate conditions, weren't they? it were already living in desperate conditions, weren't they? it such an im ortant conditions, weren't they? it such an important point- _ conditions, weren't they? it such an important point. some _ conditions, weren't they? it such an important point. some 8096 - conditions, weren't they? it such an important point. some 8096 of- conditions, weren't they? it such an important point. some 8096 of the l important point. some 80% of the population of gaza of whom have our children— population of gaza of whom have our children were dependent on humanitarian aid prior to the events of october — humanitarian aid prior to the events of october. we estimate that number is now— of october. we estimate that number is now up— of october. we estimate that number is now up to _ of october. we estimate that number is now up to 100 dependency. if you look is now up to 100 dependency. if you took at _ is now up to 100 dependency. if you took at the — is now up to 100 dependency. if you look at the type of a being prioritised going into gaza over the last few— prioritised going into gaza over the last few days this is bottled water, food, _ last few days this is bottled water, food, essential medicines, this is the very— food, essential medicines, this is the very basic materials you need to survive _ the very basic materials you need to survive as — the very basic materials you need to survive. as we look into the wider need _ survive. as we look into the wider need it— survive. as we look into the wider need it is— survive. as we look into the wider need it is complete as your report said, _ need it is complete as your report said. an _ need it is complete as your report said, an unparalleled amount of damage — said, an unparalleled amount of damage that is happened over the last few— damage that is happened over the last few weeks. therefore you need in unparalleled aid response, do not

want that— in unparalleled aid response, do not want that is— in unparalleled aid response, do not want that is limited so much by the politics— want that is limited so much by the politics of— want that is limited so much by the politics of adults, if you will. aid access— politics of adults, if you will. aid access is— politics of adults, if you will. aid access is right, it's not a privilege _ access is right, it's not a privilege i think we should forget that _ privilege i think we should forget that. . . . privilege i think we should forget that. ., ., , ., privilege i think we should forget that. ., ., ., . that. that was the head of conflict and humanitarian _ that. that was the head of conflict and humanitarian at _ that. that was the head of conflict and humanitarian at save - that. that was the head of conflict and humanitarian at save the - and humanitarian at save the children uk speaking to anna foster earlier. as you can see at a joint is now. what can we expect of the next few hours and certainly into tomorrow?— next few hours and certainly into tomorrow? tomorrow is going to be and key day — tomorrow? tomorrow is going to be and key day because _ tomorrow? tomorrow is going to be and key day because it _ tomorrow? tomorrow is going to be and key day because it is _ tomorrow? tomorrow is going to be and key day because it is the - tomorrow? tomorrow is going to be and key day because it is the fourth | and key day because it is the fourth of four day deal. i think there is a lot of expectation, a lot of hope that things will progress smoothly. there be a lot of questions about what happens next. i want to show you the view here in tel aviv. i'm in hostages square in tel aviv and you can see on the wall of the tel aviv museum of art, with much of the last few days these projections of hostages you can see at the bottom in english, i am back home. these are the groups that have been

released on day three. also as well is these images we do also see the images of those many hostages who remain in gaza. that is absolutely crucial because the deal as it stands only made provision for the release of 50 israeli hostages and 150 palestinian prisoners of this four day period. there were provisions put in place for that to be potentially extended. israel had said that for every ten for the hostages released they would be prepared to agree to an extra 26 hour of cease—fire. the list of palestinian prisoners published because it has be legally you publish here in israel so people can object to it. that something enshrined in law here. that list was not of 150 names but 300. again, laying the groundwork for a possible extension. wejust heard in last laying the groundwork for a possible extension. we just heard in last few hours that hamas had been giving indications they say that they may be open to the idea of an extension

of several days, perhaps two to four days. i also remember egypt saying yesterday that they were hearing movements towards a potential extension of the troops. that will be the key tomorrow. well there's four days pass as it is supposed to? will the cease—fire continue to hold, will the humanitarian aid continue to pass into gaza the way it's supposed to and will we see the final release as plant of the israeli hostages in the palestinian prisoners? is that all goes to plan the next question will be, candace truce be extended? qatar have said publicly on more than one occasion that they hope that it can. humanitarian organisations have been very vocal about the fact that they hope that it can put up even the us presidentjoe biden speaking earlier, particularly about the release of abigail idan, the four—year—old us — israeli citizen, talking about possible extension as well. i think it will be a lot of attention paid tomorrow to what is

going on behind the scenes as we wait to see if this four day deal, this four day truce can be extended and can lead to a longer period of cease—fire, more humanitarian aid and an extended exchange of hostages and an extended exchange of hostages and prisoners. puma and an extended exchange of hostages and prisoners-— and prisoners. anna foster, thank ou ve and prisoners. anna foster, thank you very much _ and prisoners. anna foster, thank you very much indeed. _ and prisoners. anna foster, thank you very much indeed. i'm - and prisoners. anna foster, thank you very much indeed. i'm going l and prisoners. anna foster, thankl you very much indeed. i'm going to show you live pictures from the west bank, which is where some of those 39 prisoners that were released by israel have been heading to. you can see that palestinian flags being waved there. a short while ago we saw some of those buses and some of those former prisoners peering out from the buses. making their way into ramallah. as anna said, hamas and said that they are hoping or seeking rather to extend the truce after the end of day four, which will be tomorrow. there have been discussions being held injoe harr,

trying to increase the number of hostages released as stipulated in the humanitarian truce deal withjoe harr. earlier us president biden speaking and talking about his goal, his aspiration for a pause. that pause, the push for the pause to be extended. those diplomatic discussions continuing. he mentioned his conversations with egypt and also the mayor of qatar and said he would be speaking to prime minister benjamin netanyahu. those shots you have there is ramallah in the west bank where those 39 prisoners from israeli jails have been released and have been driven to. let's get more on the situation on the hostage releases. our first report this hour is from our senior international correspondent orla guerin.

after 50 long days apart, joyful reunions. young hostages finally home. emily hand in the arms of herfather thomas. initially he was told she was dead, and then discovered she was alive in gaza. yesterday we finally got emily back from the hands of the gazan terrorists. she has lost a lot of weight from herface and body, but generally she is doing better than we expected. emily's family say they will throw her the biggest birthday party ever. she turned nine in captivity. 12—year—old hila was also released last night, but without her mother, who is still being held. for many, the trauma does not end

with the homecoming. this woman's cousin is still a hostage, but her grandmother is back home. this was a holocaust survivor being taken hostage, driven away by hamas. and here she is getting a helping hand back on home soil. her family say she has come back strong from hell. her spirit is still there, and she is still looking all of us in the eyes and still showing us that she would not let them break her. and she is telling us how she thought about us and about her great grandkids at night when it became tough, and she is saying she could hear their voices calling her, and she said, ok, i have to push through, i have to do whatever it takes to be back.

in the west bank, palestinians have been celebrating the return of more of their prisoners from israeli jails. the green flag of hamas flying high. but this is day three of a four—day deal, the releases could end tomorrow unless both sides agree to an extension. whether or not the war resumes, much of gaza is in ruins, and around 16,000 people have been killed, according to palestinian statistics. the un says the level of civilian deaths is unparalleled and unprecedented. orla guerin, bbc news, tel aviv. as we heard earlier amongst a group of hostages was a four—year—old, abigail idan. she has dual israeli

nationality. in the us presidentjoe biden spoke earlier about her release. ., ., , biden spoke earlier about her release. ., , ., ., biden spoke earlier about her release. ., ., ., ., biden spoke earlier about her release. ., , ., ., ., ., ., release. two days ago one of our fellow americans, _ release. two days ago one of our fellow americans, a _ release. two days ago one of our fellow americans, a little - release. two days ago one of our fellow americans, a little girl- fellow americans, a little girl named abigail turned four years old. she birthday and at least 50 days before that held hostage by hamas. so so many of usjoe and i are praying that she's going to be all right. joe biden has come under increasing pressure from democrats in congress over his stance on israel in the weeks leading up to these hostage exchanges. our north america correspondent shingai nyoka was at the press conference and explains how the white house is likely to handle the crisis going forward. right in the beginning the us

government really was in in defending israel and its right to defending israel and its right to defend itself. its right to route hamas from gaza. what we've seen over the last few weeks or so is a softening of that stance as there's been this international outcry as israel continued to bombard gaza build with the humanitarian crisis that was unfolding and continues to unfold. hayes tempered that message of israel's right to defend itself with this concern about the fate of the palestinian civilians. and he's continued to put pressure on prime minister netanyahu to ensure that those civilians casualties are limited. but what we saw in the speech in his address today was a focus really on what the end goal is. i'm sure that this is what has come up in those backroom conversations that they've been

having with israel, they want to see a two state solution in which the people of gaza are able to live and exercise the human rights as much as the people of israel have been doing. the people of israel have been doin:., . the people of israel have been doin:., , ., the people of israel have been doin:. , ., you to the west bank. this is ramallah where crowds have been gathering. waving and celebrating as those 39 former prisoners are released from israeli jails. as part of day threes exchange of hostages from gaza to israel and from israel the 39 palestinians today taken to ramallah. you can see there the palestinian flag waving. in the last hour hamas have issued a statement giving further details and perhaps an indication that they are seeking to extend the truce after the end of

day four, which is tomorrow, monday through seriously, they say trying to increase the number of hostages released as stipulated in the humanitarian truce deal. 39 palestinians released and 17 israeli as part of the exchange from gaza, included some foreign nationals as well. there was according to that deal with hamas the agreement that for every israeli hostage freed from gaza three palestinian prisoners would be released from those is reallyjails adult man nor anyone convicted of murder is being exchanged with them however, what we do know is that the detainees charges range from throwing stones to attempted murder. bbc arabic news spoke to one of those convicted of a more serious crime as she was reunited with her family amid a

police presence. herfirst footsteps is a free woman, 24—year—old is one of up to 150 palestinian prisoners being released as part of israel's deal with hamas to bring is hostages home from gaza. translation: ifeel emotional. it’s home from gaza. translation: i feel emotional. �* . . home from gaza. translation: i feel emotional. v . , home from gaza. translation: i feel emotional. �*, ., , emotional. it's a very good feeling but also we're _ emotional. it's a very good feeling but also we're sad _ emotional. it's a very good feeling but also we're sad because - emotional. it's a very good feeling but also we're sad because this i emotional. it's a very good feeling i but also we're sad because this deal came following the death of many innocent people. this makes us unhappy and uncomfortable. she is back home with _ unhappy and uncomfortable. she is back home with her— unhappy and uncomfortable. she is back home with her family - unhappy and uncomfortable. she is back home with her family in - back home with her family in east jerusalem after being sentenced to eight years for a knife attack on a border police officer in 2015. translation: i only heard i was going _ translation: i only heard i was going to — translation: i only heard i was going to be released this morning. | going to be released this morning. couldn't going to be released this morning. i couldn't believe it. even when i was getting taken here in the police car. even when i start my dad, i still can't believe it's not a joke.

many palestinians put do not view the prisoners of victims of occupation. she has been campaigning for her daughter's release. i asked her what it feels like to see her daughter sitting on her couch for the first time since she was a teenager. the first time since she was a teenager-— the first time since she was a teenaaer. �* ,, . , ,, teenager. translation: my happiness has come back — teenager. translation: my happiness has come back with _ teenager. translation: my happiness has come back with her, _ teenager. translation: my happiness has come back with her, she _ teenager. translation: my happiness has come back with her, she has - has come back with her, she has brought— has come back with her, she has brought the joy back into our home, finally— brought the joy back into our home, finallv our— brought the joy back into our home, finally our family is together again — finally our family is together aaain. . . finally our family is together aiain. ,., . finally our family is together aiain. . ., again. israeli police told the visitors family _ again. israeli police told the visitors family to _ again. israeli police told the visitors family to sign - again. israeli police told the - visitors family to sign documents promising not to celebrate the release. the picture in the west bank is very different. among the singing and chanting in the capital ramallah were some hamas flags. all this comes in the context in the effort to free israeli hostages. around a dozen a day are being driven across from gaza to egypt and then airlifted to israeli hospitals to meet their families.

then airlifted to israeli hospitals to meet theirfamilies. the united nations has confirmed that 129,000 litres of fuel have crossed into gaza on sunday. we wanted to show you these pictures from rafah in the southern gaza strip where hundreds of people have been queuing for fuel. these images are from just one petrol station where the sheer number of people trying to fill up containers forced it to close. as well as food the united nations also says 61 lorries of aid also reached northern gaza on sunday — the largest number since october the 7th. fuel finally reaching parts of gaza. let's show you the west bank and

ramallah where crowds have been gathering over the last few hours. as 39 palestinian former prisoners also released as part of today's exchanges. stay with us here on bbc news. that is ramallah in the west bank where people have been gathering as some of those palestinian prisoners have been released. we also understand that some of the prisoners are going to be sent to the occupied eastjerusalem. and our correspondent is lucy williamson who has been following events for four days. just tell us what has happened. —— 40 days. have those prisoners started to arrive? happened. -- 40 days. have those prisoners started to arrive? they've been trickling _ prisoners started to arrive? they've been trickling in _ prisoners started to arrive? they've been trickling in over— prisoners started to arrive? they've been trickling in over the _ prisoners started to arrive? they've been trickling in over the last - been trickling in over the last couple of hours with that we now

understand that all the palestinian prisoners have arrived back home. today's group were all fairly young for that we're told they were all 18 years and under there was a 14—year—old included in that group for that many came from east jerusalem, have come back here. they're obviously under a blanket ban here in eastjerusalem, no celebrations, the families are not allowed to do big public celebrations and a buy order, no hitting out of sweets. there also are not supposed to the media. although i should say haven't spoken to families families who've also received back prisoners from israeli jails, the mood amongst many families is not really one of absolute celebration. there is a lot ofjoy absolute celebration. there is a lot of joy at having absolute celebration. there is a lot ofjoy at having their family members back but there's also a lot of conflicted feelings about the situation in gaza and a lot of worry about what is going to happen once this four day truce is over. what this four day truce is over. what sort of reaction _

this four day truce is over. what sort of reaction has _ this four day truce is over. what sort of reaction has there - this four day truce is over. what sort of reaction has there been l this four day truce is over. what sort of reaction has there been or tell us more about the statement from hamas. irate tell us more about the statement from hamas-— tell us more about the statement from hamas. ~ ., ., ,., from hamas. we heard tonight both hamas and president _ from hamas. we heard tonight both hamas and president biden - from hamas. we heard tonight both hamas and president biden talkingl hamas and president biden talking about the possibility of extending the cease—fire for the being very encouraging about that. we also have a statement from him, saying they've indicated their willingness to extend the cease—fire. we think by two to four days. there's a senior palestinian sources told us, familiar with the negotiations are ongoing at the moment who has told the bbc that hamas has signal its willingness to add another two to four days onto that cease—fire, which would mean potentially 22 40 more israeli hostages released, it says because under the terms agreement initially signed by hamas and israel every extra ten hostages would mean another day of that cease—fire. at the moment it is significant that president biden has

stepped into this discussion. we haven't yet heard from israel that they are willing to consider it. pie. they are willing to consider it. as ou they are willing to consider it. as you said, we heard from president biden earlier and he mentioned continued discussions with benjamin netanyahu, egypt's president and the mayor of qatar. just how complex are these negotiations been? == mayor of qatar. just how complex are these negotiations been?— these negotiations been? -- mer of qatar. these negotiations been? -- mer of qatar- very — these negotiations been? -- mer of qatar. very complex. _ these negotiations been? -- mer of qatar. very complex. qatar - these negotiations been? -- mer of qatar. very complex. qatar has - these negotiations been? -- mer of| qatar. very complex. qatar has been key as relations with all parties in this dispute. again they are playing a very key role in seeing what margin there might be to extend the cease—fire. of course israel has been adamant all along so far that this is a temporary truce and it will restart the war, it will restart the bombardment of gaza afterwards prime minister netanyahu was in gaza today reiterating that point for them and the defence minister has said that any negotiations will take place under

fire. , . ., negotiations will take place under fire. ., ., , fire. lucy williamson “oining us from east * fire. lucy williamson “oining us from east jerusalem. j- fire. lucy williamsonjoining us from east jerusalem. thank - fire. lucy williamson joining us | from east jerusalem. thank you fire. lucy williamson joining us - from east jerusalem. thank you very from eastjerusalem. thank you very much indeed. today we have seen the release of 1a israelis, three foreign nationals and 39 palestinian former prisoners from israeli jails. stay with us, there more coming up here on bbc news. hello, this is bbc news, i'm lukwesa burak with the headlines. israel confirms that 16 israeli hostages and three foreign nationals are now backin and three foreign nationals are now back in israel on the third day of a four—day pause in fighting in gaza. amongst the 1a four—day pause in fighting in gaza. amongst the 16 released israelis was abigail edan, a four—year—old girl with dual israeli us nationality. and as part of the deal, 39 palestinian detainees have now also been released by israel. meanwhile, the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu has himself visited gaza

for the first time since the start of the conflict. he told his troops, "we will continue until victory." and this is the scene live in ramallah, in the west bank, where released prisoners have been welcomed, as well as occupied east jerusalem. now it sportsday on bbc news. -- it —— it sportsday. hello and welcome to sportsday with me, hugh ferris. our headlines this evening... the man who helped bring english football a seminal summer has passed away. terry venables dies at the age of 80. they did come up and say, "that's the best feeling we've ever had." and it's just a shame that that just wasn't to be.

compounding the misery — a week after everton's ten—point deduction, they lose and conceded one