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HAMAS released six more hostages last night - with the group safely back in Israel waiting to return to their loved ones.

It brings the total number of hostages released on Thursday to eight, with Mia Schem, 21, and Amit Soussana, 40, handed over to the Red Cross earlier.

The moment Mia Schem, 21, was greeted by her mother and brother after being released from Hamas captivity
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The moment Mia Schem, 21, was greeted by her mother and brother after being released from Hamas captivityCredit: AP
Hamas fighters freed another 10 hostages
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Hamas fighters freed another 10 hostagesCredit: Reuters
Brave prisoners seen moments after they were released and taken to safety
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Brave prisoners seen moments after they were released and taken to safetyCredit: Reuters
Mia Schem looked terrified as she was helped by Red Cross workers
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Mia Schem looked terrified as she was helped by Red Cross workersCredit: Reuters
This is the seventh consecutive day of releases after the true deal was extended by another 24 hours early Thursday morning
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This is the seventh consecutive day of releases after the true deal was extended by another 24 hours early Thursday morningCredit: Reuters

Heartwarming footage from earlier today shows Mia breaking down in tears as she hugged her mother and brother for the first time since being kidnapped 55 days ago.

The six further hostages - released on Thursday night - are now with the Red Cross and special forces troops heading towards the Hatzerim Base for medical checks.

Among those six are Mexican-Israeli Ilana Gritzewsky, 30, who had to tragically leave her partner behind in the hands of Hamas thugs.

Bilal Al Zaiadna, 18, was released hand in hand with his younger sister Ayesha Al Zaiadna, 17, making them the only children to be returned home on the seventh day of the agreement.

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The Al Zaiadna family are still waiting to see older brother Hamza and father Yousef freed after the four family members were kidnapped from their dairy farm in Kibbutz Holit.

Sapir Cohen, 29, and Shani Goren, 29, have also been let go as part of the continuing deal that will see 30 more Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli jails.

Nili Margalit, a 41-year-old nurse who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz has also been freed.

All six are expected to be reunited with their families after they've had routine check ups with doctors.

A harrowing video from earlier shows hollow-cheeked Amit and Mia getting out of a vehicle and quickly being placed into a Red Cross car.

Israel said the two women were handed over to IDF special forces and transferred to the same hospital hours before the final six of todays hostages. 

The two ladies were the first pair freed in this additional 24 hour truce period set early Thursday morning.

Qatar - a key mediator in the deal - say the two Russian-Israeli nationals released Wednesday have been counted towards today's tally taking it up to 10.

The agreed deal stated Israel needed to receive 10 hostages each day by Hamas meaning the day's overall total has been reached.

As talks of a further day extension are ongoing as fighting could start again Friday morning.

Bilal Al Zaiadna, 18, was freed alongside his little sister
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Bilal Al Zaiadna, 18, was freed alongside his little sisterCredit: Reuters
Bilal's sister Ayesha Al Zaiadna, 17, was let go in the seventh day of the agreed truce
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Bilal's sister Ayesha Al Zaiadna, 17, was let go in the seventh day of the agreed truceCredit: Reuters
Sapir Cohen, 29, is one of six more hostages believed to be with the Red Cross on their way to Israel
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Sapir Cohen, 29, is one of six more hostages believed to be with the Red Cross on their way to IsraelCredit: Reuters
Shani Goren, 29, has been released after 55 days as a hostage
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Shani Goren, 29, has been released after 55 days as a hostageCredit: Reuters

Heart-wrenching footage showed Mia's mum breaking down in tears as she is being told her daughter is free.

"Mia is coming back!" she shouts as she fights back tears.

Israeli-French Mia Schem, 21, was one of over 190 people kidnapped by Hamas from the Supernova music festival on October 7.

She was seen pleading to be released in a video released by the terror group ten days after the atrocity.

The 21-year-old was shown receiving medical care for her wounded arm before telling the camera she was being held in Gaza and pleading for her release.

In the one-minute-long video posted to Telegram, Mia said: ''They are taking care of me, giving me medicine, everything is fine.

"I only ask that they bring me home as soon as possible to my parents, to my siblings.

"Get me out of here as soon as possible. Please."

Mia also mentioned that she had just undergone a three-hour-long surgery in Gaza.

Following the release of the sick footage, her devastated mum begged the world "help bring my baby home."

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the release of the 21-year-old.

"Mia Schem is free," he shared on X.

"I share this great joy with her family and all French people.

"Macron also expressed his solidarity with all those who remain hostages of Hamas.

"France is working with its partners to secure their release as soon as possible."

The release of the eight new hostages came after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement was extended by another 24 hours on Wednesday.

The truce came just minutes before the six-day halt was set to end at 7am local time (5am GMT) this morning.

But shortly after the deal was agreed, Hamas carried out a deadly attack in Jerusalem leaving three civilians dead.

The terror group's military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for the shooting branding it "heroic" and saying it was in response to killing the "children and women in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank."

The group also called for an "escalation of the resistance."

Officials said the victims included a 24-year-old woman and a 73-year-old man while another eight people were wounded in the attack.

Hamas appeared to admit breaking the truce with Israel which saw 10 hostages being released and allowing more aid to reach the enclave.

A total of 14 more captives were released last night as part of the truce deal.

Five children and five women from Israel and four Thai hostages were freed just hours before the truce deal was set to expire.

The group of ten Israelis are made up of a Dutch child, three Germans and a woman from the US, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed al Ansari said.

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Amongst those released was Rimon Kirsht, 36, who fearlessly stared down a Hamas thug as she was freed.

Other hostages included a young girl with her pet dog, an elderly woman in a wheelchair and kids bandaged up.

Ilana Gritzewsky, 30, left her husband behind after they were both kidnapped
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Ilana Gritzewsky, 30, left her husband behind after they were both kidnappedCredit: Reuters
Nurse Nili Margalit, 41, was snatched by Hamas during the October 7 massacre
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Nurse Nili Margalit, 41, was snatched by Hamas during the October 7 massacreCredit: Reuters
Mia Schem, 21, was one of 190 kidnapped at the deadly Supernova festival
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Mia Schem, 21, was one of 190 kidnapped at the deadly Supernova festivalCredit: Twitter
Amit Soussana, 40, was also released by Hamas alongside Mia
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Amit Soussana, 40, was also released by Hamas alongside Mia
Six more Israeli hostages were taken by the Red Cross to Israel
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Six more Israeli hostages were taken by the Red Cross to IsraelCredit: AFP
Mia was seen pleading to be freed in a sick video released by Hamas where she was bandaged up
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Mia was seen pleading to be freed in a sick video released by Hamas where she was bandaged up
Mia's devastated mum had begged for her daughter to be freed
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Mia's devastated mum had begged for her daughter to be freedCredit: EPA
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