Siblings, nurse and Mexican national among hostages released by Hamas – latest news

Eight Israeli hostages, including a pair of siblings, a nurse and citizens of Uruguay and Mexico, have been released by Hamas this evening.

A spokesman for the Qatari foreign ministry said the two Russian hostages who were among 12 freed yesterday would be counted towards today’s total, bringing it up to the 10 required to maintain the terms of the truce.

The mother of Israeli Hamas hostage Mia Schem was filmed crying with relief as she is told over the phone that her daughter is to be released from Gaza.

Meanwhile, Hamas has claimed responsibility for the shooting at a bus stop in Jerusalem, in which three people were killed.

The militant group said it ‘came as a natural response to unprecedented crimes conducted by the occupation,’ citing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and the treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Rabbi Elimelech Wasserman, 73, Chana Ifergan, 64, and Livia Dickman, 24, were all gunned down when two Palestinians opened fire in an attack on a main road towards the western edge of the city.

Surveillance camera footage that Metro.co.uk has decided not to publish shows the harrowing moment the two men jumped out of a car, firing indiscriminately.

Police said the attackers used an M-16 rifle and a handgun before they were killed by off-duty soldiers and another civilian.

This comes just hours after Israel and Hamas agreed to extend the ceasefire in Gaza minutes before it was due to expire.