In a significant breakthrough in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, twelve more hostages were released on Tuesday, as both sides entered the fifth day of a cease-fire. The cease-fire, which was set to expire on Monday, was extended for two more days, allowing for further negotiations and exchanges.

The Red Cross and the Israel Defense Forces announced that the 12 hostages were transferred to Egypt under the supervision of Red Cross representatives. The hostages included 10 Israelis, one Filipino, two Argentinians, and two Thai citizens. Among the Israeli hostages, one is a minor and nine are women. None of the hostages released on Tuesday were American.

In exchange for the release of the hostages, Israel released 30 Palestinian prisoners, consisting of 15 minors and 15 women, according to Dr. Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This exchange follows the release of dozens of Israeli hostages and over 100 Palestinian prisoners on Monday and over the weekend.

The extended cease-fire has provided a humanitarian pause in the fighting and has allowed for the release of hostages on both sides. The truce deal, negotiated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, hinged on Hamas' pledge to release at least 50 women and children taken captive in Israel on October 7th, and Israel's pledge to release at least 150 Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons. Israel also agreed to adhere to a cease-fire agreement in Gaza.

The temporary pause in fighting marks the first since Israel declared war on Hamas in response to militants' deadly rampage on October 7th, which Israeli officials claim killed 1,200 people. In retaliation, Hamas kidnapped an estimated 240 people from Israel and held them captive in Gaza.

The release of hostages has been a critical step towards de-escalation, but challenges still remain. Mediating country Qatar announced on Monday that Israel and Hamas had reached a deal to extend the cease-fire for another 48 hours, but discussions are ongoing to further extend the truce.

The Israeli government has also released a list of 50 more Palestinian prisoners that it is willing to release as part of continued exchanges. A spokesperson for the Israeli government, Eylon Levy, expressed that the current hostage release pause can be extended for another five days on the basis of a three-for-one swap, meaning three Palestinian prisoners would be released from Israel for every hostage released by Hamas.

The hostages released by Hamas since the start of the cease-fire have primarily been women and children. However, Hamas has expressed interest in negotiating another deal that would include the release of male hostages and abducted Israeli soldiers.

The Biden administration has been actively involved in securing the release of the remaining hostages. CIA Director William Burns was reported to be in Doha for meetings on the Israel-Hamas conflict, including discussions about the hostages.

While progress has been made through the cease-fire and the release of hostages, the situation remains tense. Israel remains committed to crushing Hamas' military capabilities and ending the group's rule over Gaza. This could potentially lead to an expansion of the ground offensive, which has already devastated large parts of northern Gaza.

The extended cease-fire not only provides an opportunity for further negotiations and exchanges but also allows for the flow of aid into Gaza. The territory has been severely impacted by weeks of Israeli siege, bombardment, and a ground offensive, displacing many of its 2.3 million residents.

The release of hostages and prisoners is seen as a significant step towards de-escalation and a potential path towards a lasting peace agreement. However, the road ahead remains challenging, with both sides still holding captives and underlying issues yet to be resolved.