Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend the pause in their fighting by one more day as more Israeli hostages have been freed.

Their announcements came Thursday just minutes before the temporary ceasefire was due to end.

The pause began last Friday and was extended for two days on Tuesday.

Hamas had already released 97 hostages. Israel has reportedly freed 210 jailed Palestinians. The Israeli military said Hamas freed two more Israeli hostages on Thursday and they were brought back into Israel, with more expected to follow in the next several hours.
The pause was due to expire at 7 AM local time on Thursday. Tough negotiations on an extension are believed to have continued until the last minutes.

One sticking point appears to have been Hamas' list of hostages to be released.

Earlier, Hamas said Israel had refused to accept seven women and children and the bodies of three people who died in an Israeli bombing.

The Israeli government says it would resume attacks immediately unless a list of hostages in line with agreed terms was delivered.

It says such a list was delivered. Israeli media quoted sources as saying eight women and children will be released.