Hamas's military wing released two Russian hostages held in Gaza. Irini Tati, 73, and Yelena Trupanov, 50, who are mother and daughter, were freed on November 29. Both were kidnapped from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Sixteen more hostages have been handed over by Hamas, including four Thai workers, but news of a possible ceasefire extension to allow more releases were overshadowed by the claimed deaths of the youngest children remaining in captivity.
By nightfall, Hamas had still given no further details of what it said was the killing of the youngest hostage, ten-month-old Kfir Bibas, his brother Ariel, four, and their mother Shiri, 32, by an Israeli strike.
Family members, who on Tuesday begged for their release, were informed of the earlier Hamas statement first by the Israel Defence Forces.
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