Israel also released 110 Palestinian prisoners. The swaps are a key part of a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the war.

Israel has failed to defeat Hamas, but Palestinians in Gaza express mixed feelings about the group remaining in power.

By bnm Tel Aviv bureau Hamas has belatedly confirmed for the first time that its senior military commander, Mohammed Deif, was killed in an Israeli airstrike last year in Gaza's Khan Younis area, along with his deputy Marwan Issa.

Hamas confirmed the death of its military chief Mohammed Deif on Thursday. "The Al-Qassam Brigades announce (...) the martyrdom of a group of

Hamas' military wing has confirmed the assassination of Chief of Staff Mohammed Deif, months after Israel said it killed him in Gaza during a summer airstrike.

Hamas confirms the death of Mohammed Deif, head of its military wing, 6 months after Israel announced he was killed

The exchange of hostages for prisoners is a key part of a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas-led militants freed eight more hostages from the Gaza Strip and another 110 Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel as part of a ceasefire that began earlier this month. The

Hamas confirmed for the first time on Thursday that Israeli killed the head of its military wing, Mohammed Deif, in an airstrike last year. Deif was one of the alleged

Hamas confirmed the death of Mohammed Deif, head of its military wing, six months after Israel announced he was killed. It was the first statement Hamas has released on Deif’s condition since the Israeli military announced last August that he was killed in an airstrike in southern Gaza the month before.