The expected release will keep up the momentum of the fragile ceasefire​ between Israel and the militant Hamas group that paused the 15-monthlong war in Gaza.

President Donald Trump claimed that his administration had “identified and stopped $50 million being sent to Gaza to buy condoms for Hamas.”

U S Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Tuesday, emphasizing the importance of close cooperation to ensure Hamas cannot govern the Gaza Strip again

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Egypt's foreign minister on Tuesday it was important to ensure Hamas can never govern Gaza again, the State Department said, with their call coming after President Donald Trump suggested Egypt and Jordan should take more Palestinians.

The release planned for Thursday would be the third so far as Israel and Hamas observe a six-week truce, part of a multiphase agreement that mediators hope will end the war in Gaza.

Officials from Israel and Hamas say the militant group will release three Israelis, including two women and an 80-year-old man, and five Thai nationals.

'Mauni Amavasya' is considered the most auspicious due to a rare alignment of celestial bodies after 144 years.

By Nandita Bose, Kanishka Singh and Nidal al-Mughrabi ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE/Cairo (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said Jordan and Egypt should take more Palestinians from war-ravaged Gaza, a suggestion rejected by Hamas,

Israel and Hamas were set to carry out their third hostage-prisoner exchange on Thursday, with three Israelis and five Thai captives slated for release as part of a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the Gaza war.

Trump over the weekend told reporters that Egypt and Jordan should take in Palestinians from war-torn Gaza, an idea that has long been rejected by those countries and the Palestinians themselves because they say it would undermine the notion of Palestinian statehood and foment instability in their states.

But as rights advocates hail a rare case of reverse displacement in Palestinian history, United States President Donald Trump has called for transferring Gaza’s entire population to Egypt and Jordan.