On Sunday, as part of a four-day ceasefire deal in the Gaza war, Hamas handed over a third group of prisoners to Red Cross officials, raising expectations for a longer truce with the release of further hostages in the coming days.
Since Friday, extremist group Hamas has freed 58 captives, the latest of which were freed on Sunday along with 14 Israelis and 3 Thais.
Israeli sources claim that radicals in Gaza are still holding nearly 180 hostages after the October 7 terrorist attacks.
In exchange for the 17 liberated convicts, another 39 Palestinian hostages were released from Israeli prisons on Sunday, as was the situation the day before.
The fighting is part of an agreement to cease for four days that Qatar brokered and which is expected to hold until Tuesday morning.
The United States and Qatar, as well as officials on both sides of the dispute, have expressed support for a longer ceasefire than the four days that were first agreed upon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced after the release of the third group of hostages that the agreement permits an extension in exchange for the release of 10 extra inmates every day.
