Hamas releases 12 more hostages Tuesday

Twelve more Hamas-held hostages were released Tuesday evening, as a part of the on-going temporary truce between Israel and the militant group.

The pause in fighting is expected to continue until at least Wednesday, but there are growing calls for both sides to lay down their arms and make this a permanent ceasefire.

Hamas released 10 Israeli hostages, nine women and one 17-year-old girl, as well as two Thai nationals. The I.D.F. says they’re back in Israeli territory now.

About an hour later, Israel released 30 Palestinian prisoners in exchange.

READ MORE: Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza extended for two more days

An extended truce would also allow more aid into Gaza, which has been battered by weeks of Israeli siege and air strikes.

The U.S. says it’s airlifted more than 54,000 pounds of United Nations humanitarian supplies into Egypt, to be driven into Gaza, since the truce began Friday.

The U.N. Palestinian envoy is calling for a permanent ceasefire, while Israelis are calling on their government to bring all of the 240 hostages home, especially the youngest captives.

“Only a truce could lead to the release of people held in captivity and avoid further regional escalation. This truce must turn into a permanent ceasefire,” Riyad Mansour from the Palestinian U.N. envoy said.

Hamas has released 81 of the 240 hostages. The Israeli government says it plans to continue its ground invasion into Gaza following the truce.