Israeli military confirms release of six more hostages in Gaza Strip

Israel will free 30 Palestinian prisoners later in the evening under the deal.

Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi, center, is supported by her mother after she was released from prison by Israel, in the West Bank town of Ramallah, early Thursday. Picture: AP Photo/Nasser Nasser

Hamas has freed eight Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners under a last-minute deal to extend their ceasefire in Gaza by another day.

However, any further renewal of the truce, now in its seventh day, could prove more daunting since Hamas is expected to set a higher price for many of the remaining hostages.