Hamas handed Agam Berger over to Israel, the first of eight hostages expected to be released from Gaza on Thursday. In exchange, Israel is set to release 110 Palestinian prisoners, including about 30 people serving life sentences, in the third swap since the Gaza cease-fire and hostages agreement came into effect earlier this month.

The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has handed over to mediators a list showing that 25 Israeli hostages are still alive, out of 33 scheduled for release, an official of the group told Reuters on Monday.

Eight of the 26 hostages still to be released from Gaza during the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire are dead, The Telegraph has learned.

The Islamist group Hamas said Monday that eight of 33 hostages to be released from the Gaza Strip in the first phase of a ceasefire agreement with Israel are dead. Twenty-five of them are still alive,

Eight Israeli hostages held by Hamas militants have died. They were supposed to be released as part of the first stage of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, states the spokesperson for the Israeli government,

Whether hostages are alive or dead inside Gaza has been a heartbreaking question for waiting families who have pushed Israel to reach a deal to free them.