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.

Israel and Hamas were set to carry out their third hostage-prisoner exchange on Thursday, with three Israelis and five Thai captives slated for release as part of a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the Gaza war.