There are encouraging and strong signals tonight that the temporary cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas, due to end at midnight tomorrow, could be extended. Now, the deal so far has led to hostages being freed that were seized by Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the UK government, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, and, crucially, an influx of much-needed aid into Gaza. Well, so far, over three nights, 40 Israeli hostages have returned home, with these 14 released this evening, and another group expected to be freed sometime tomorrow. A number of other hostages from Thailand, Russia, and the Philippines have also been released as part of separate negotiations. In return, 117 Palestinian prisoners have been freed too. Thirty-nine today, we'll all gear in as the very latest.

Rejoicing in Israel after the darkness of recent weeks. The latest group of hostages freed from Gaza, waved to supporters as they are welcomed home. Both Israel and Hamas are signaling their deal could be extended to free more of those being held. For reunions like this, after 50 days apart, young hostages finally home. Emily Hand, embraced by her father, Thomas, who at one stage believed her dead. Now she is free, and he says, doing well.

Yeah, yesterday we finally got Emily back from the hands of the gas and terrorists. She's lost a lot of weight. From a face and body, but generally doing better than we expected.

Emily's family say they will throw her the biggest birthday party ever. She turned nine in captivity. Abigail, Aidan has also been freed. Joe Biden had been pushing for her release. The four-year-old is American-Israeli. Hamas killed both of her parents. Also back in Israel, Yaffa Adar. Since coming home, she has learned her grandson is a captive. This was the 85-year-old being driven away by Hamas, a survivor of the Holocaust, taken hostage. Her granddaughter says she is back from hell, strong as ever.

Her spirit is still there and she's still looking all of us in the eyes and she's still showing us that she wouldn't let them break her. And she's telling us how she thought about us and about the great grandkids at night when it became tough. And she's saying she could hear their voices calling her, and that she said, Okay, I have to push through. I have to do whatever it takes to be back.

Also coming home, Palestinians, in their teens freed from Israeli jails. Many children are detained by Israel, the occupying power, on charges of throwing stones.

In.

The West Bank, they got a hero's welcome. The green flag of Hamas now flying high. In Gaza, the troose is holding among the ruins. More than 14,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. Many in the international community fear what's to come if Israel's bombardment resumes. Orligiro and BBC News, Tel Aviv.

Let's cross to Lucy Williamson, who is in East Jerusalem for us tonight. Lucy, there's the possibility that more Palestinians could be released beyond the end of the current deal if there is an extension.

Yes, and I think that will come as welcomed news to many people in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem, not just because it means more Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli jails, but also because of the sense of kinship that many people feel with people in Gaza and concern for the situation there. Israel has put restrictions on many of the families who are receiving people back from jails saying they shouldn't hold celebrations, they shouldn't talk to the media, but there's very little mood for big celebrations as it is because people have told us they do feel anger and sadness at the situation in Gaza. We spoke to one mother in the West Bank this week who was waiting for her son to come off one of these coaches from the Israeli jail. And she said she felt conflicted about what Hamas had done. On the one hand, she said it brought her son back to her. On the other hand, it caused the devastation in Gaza.

Indeed. Okay, Lucy, thank you. Lucy Williamson there in East Jerusalem. Let's get a final word from all of who's here. We heard Lucy there say, Of course, Palestinians on the West Bank and in the Gulf of the West Bank and in the West Coast of the West Coast, they're going to want an extension. President Biden has made it clear this evening that he would like to see more hostages released and an extension of the ceasefire. What do you believe the next few days could hold in relation to all of this?

I think for the moment, Clive, it suits everyone to extend. There's nothing firm, there's nothing official, but we've had a series of statements today that are all indicating the same thing. First of all, Hamas said it would like to extend the cease-fire. There was a suggestion from a Palestinian official who spoke to the BBC that this could be an extension of two to four days, allowing for the release of another 20 to 40 Israeli hostages. Then we had President Biden saying we would like to see the deal extended. This evening, we had the Israeli Prime Minister, Binyam and Nathan Yahoo, referring to the fact that the deal allows for an extension and using a phrase which translated means that would be a blessed thing. The signals are that this is something that all the sides want. We have to get through tomorrow first and the release of the final batch under the existing deal. We're expecting another 13 or 14 tomorrow. Important to say, Clive, that Netanyahu has also said, After any deal, we will go back to war with full force. He's under pressure from the military here not to let this pause, drag on too long.

They want to get back to the battlefield. The families of the hostages want peace as long as possible.