Report of Israeli hostage family's deaths, including 10-month-old, overshadows truce talks

Israeli hostage handover is under way in Gaza, Palestinian official says

Faith leaders from the Druze, Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities hold an interfaith prayer at Kibbutz Kfar Azza near the Israel-Gaza border, the site of an October 7 cross-border attack by Hamas who killed some 1,200 people. Picture: AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo

The handover of more Israeli hostages by Hamas is underway in Gaza, a Palestinian official familiar with the truce efforts told Reuters on Wednesday, the final day of a two-day extension of a truce in the Gaza war.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, an ally of Hamas, said earlier it had handed over several civilian hostages as part of an exchange deal that also involves the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.