Gaza: At least 12 Israeli captives freed as a truce between Israel and Hamas enters its sixth day Wednesday.
After a 48-hour extension of an initial four-day truce, a new group of 12 captives was freed from Gaza on Tuesday, with 30 Palestinians released from Israeli prisons.
The final 24 hours of the extended agreement begins later Wednesday, with one more exchange of captives for prisoners expected, but mediator Qatar said it was hoping for a more durable arrangement.
The Israeli captives freed were all women, including 17-year-old Mia Leimberg, who returned to Israel with her mother and aunt.
Israel's government has received a list of the new captives to be freed Wednesday, local media reported. There was no official confirmation.
So far, 60 Israeli captives have been freed from Gaza under the terms of the deal, with a Russian-Israeli, 20 Thais and one Filipino freed outside the scope of the agreement.
In return, 180 Palestinian prisoners -- all women and children -- have been released from Israeli jails.
Among them was 14-year-old Ahmad Salaima who returned to his home in east Jerusalem to cheers and hugs from relatives.
The truce agreement has brought a temporary halt to fighting. Israel's aerial and land bombardment of Gaza has killed nearly 15,000 people, and rendered large parts of the territory's north uninhabitable.
