The truce is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas, whose Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel sparked the fighting.

Hamas is due to free three Israeli hostages on Thursday in return for the release of more than 100 Palestinian prisoners, in the third exchange under a fragile truce that took effect in Gaza this month.

The expected release will keep up the momentum of the fragile ceasefire​ between Israel and the militant Hamas group that paused the 15-monthlong war in Gaza.