hostages come out and surge more humanitarian relief in to those who are in need in gaza. we'll hear more on the possibility of an extended truce later, from our correspondent on the ground. it all comes as m more israelis held by hamas — including nine children, as well as three foreign nationals — were released on sunday. among them is avigail idan — the first us citizen to be freed. she was just three at the time she was taken hostage, and she spent her fourth birthday in captivity. her parents were killed by hamas gunmen during the october 7th attacks. members of her family have released a statement, saying... the family also thanked the qatari and us governments for helping to secure her release. here's her grandfather, speaking earlier. translation: it was "wow". i couldn't believe it until i saw her. i simply couldn't believe it. now i'm a bit more relieved. not relieved completely, because there is happiness mixed with missing abigail's parents. there are other people who have not returned. i want them to return and i want the army to finish the mission as it has promised. all the hostages and hamas. both go together. our senior international correspondent orla guerin is in tel aviv with more. rejoicing in israel, after the darkness of recent weeks. the latest group of hostages freed from gaza wave to supporters as they are welcomed home. both israel and hamas are signalling 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 herfather, thomas, who at one stage believed her dead. now she is free, and, he says, doing well. yesterday, we finally got emily back from the hands of the gazan terrorists. she's lost a lot of weight, from herface 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 idan 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, ok, i have to 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 truce 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 altogether. orla guerin, bbc news, tel aviv. the latest releases bring the total number of hostages this released during the window to sa and the number of prisoners freed to 117. well, in the west bank, there were celebrations, as the latest group of 39 freed palestinian prisoners were reunited with their families. as part of its deal with hamas, for every israeli hostage freed from gaza, three palestinian prisoners are released from israeli jails. no adult men, nor anyone convicted of murder, is being exchanged. the detainees�* charges range from throwing stones to attempted murder. my colleague from bbc news arabic, muhannad tutunji, spoke to one of those convicted of a more serious crime as she was reunited with her family, amid a police presence. her first footsteps as a free woman. 24—year—old marah bakeer is one of up to 150 palestinian prisoners being released, as part of israel's deal with hamas to bring its hostages home from gaza. translation: i feel emotional. it's a very good feeling. but also, we are very sad, because this deal came following the death of many innocent people, and this makes us unhappy and uncomfortable. bakeer is back home with her family in eastjerusalem, after being sentenced to 8.5 years for a knife attack on a border police officer in 2015. i only heard i was going to be released this morning. i couldn't believe it. even when i was getting taken here in the police car. even when i saw my dad. i still can't believe it's not a joke. many palestinians view the prisoners as victims of israel's occupation. sawsan bakeer has been campaigning for her daughter's release. i asked her what it feels like to see her daughter sitting on her couch for the first time since she was a teenager. translation: my happiness has come back with her. - she has brought thejoy back into our home. finally, ourfamily is together again. israeli police told the prisoners' families to sign documents promising not to celebrate their release. the picture in the west bank, policed by the palestinians, is very different. among the singing and chanting in the capital, ramallah, were some hamas flags. all this comes in the context of the effort to free israeli hostages. around a dozen a day are being driven across from gaza to egypt, then airlifted to israeli hospitals to meet their families. muhannad tutunji, bbc news arabic, jerusalem. the current truce expires at midnight on monday. our middle east correspondent lucy williamson is in eastjerusalem — and has more on the possibility that the agreement will be extended. (take tonight both sides seem to be edging towards a deal. senior sources told the bbc hamas has let negotiators know it may be willing to extend the truce by two to four days, to allow another 20 to a0 hostages to leave for israel. now, prime minister netanyahu here in israel has also signalled that he may be open to an extension of the deal. he said tonight that the framework for this kind of extension, already outlined in the agreement with hamas, was a blessed thing, but he also made the point that after the end of any framework, any agreement, israel would return to its core goals, and top of that list is the elimination of hamas. but each day that this truce continues, the pressure rises for what happens the day after. for more, let's bring in michael singh, managing director and senior fellow at the washington institute for near east policy. my call, thank you forjoining us tonight on bbc news. we are hearing these signals from several parties involved, including from hamas spokespeople, president biden as well, that this ceasefire could be extended. what do you make of these signals and what are the chances we could see some sort of extension to this truce we have been under the past three days now? i truce we have been under the past three days now?- truce we have been under the past three days now? i think as ou past three days now? i think as you heard. _ past three days now? i think as you heard, both _ past three days now? i think as you heard, both the _ past three days now? i think as you heard, both the us - past three days now? i think as you heard, both the us and - you heard, both the us and israel probably would like to see the ceasefire extended. it accomplishes two things primarily. one, it secures the release of more israeli hostages and that is one of israel's war aims, to get all the people out of gaza and to do as many as possible during this ceasefire when there would be ideal, from israel's perspective. it also gives the us and israel a bit of time to think about the next phase of the war. obviously israel is focused a lot on northern gaza. that campaign has been a devastating campaign. israel now probably will be turning its attention to southern gaza, where presumably a good number of hamas fighters and the leadership would have fled during the first phase of the war, and of course the us will be interested in understanding how does israel intend to prosecute this phase of the conflict and how will it minimise civilian casualties, quite importantly. in minimise civilian casualties, quite importantly.— minimise civilian casualties, quite importantly. in terms of these hepes _ quite importantly. in terms of these hopes that _ quite importantly. in terms of these hopes that these - these hopes that these exchanges could continue, maybe even to the point that all the hostages, there are still several hostages being held in gaza, untilall several hostages being held in gaza, until all those hostages are released, but how likely might that be on the side of hamas? would they be willing to free all hostages currently in captivity? free all hostages currently in cativi ? ., free all hostages currently in captivity?— captivity? you know, it is honestly _ captivity? you know, it is honestly a _ captivity? you know, it is honestly a bit _ captivity? you know, it is honestly a bit harder- captivity? you know, it is honestly a bit harder to l captivity? you know, it is. honestly a bit harder to say what hamas's calculation is. i think so far hamas has been willing to agree to a ceasefire. it may give them a bit of time to regroup. obviously they have been able to release some palestinian prisoners, —— secure the release of, and they have gained some credit from the public for that. i doubt that though hamas will be willing to release all of the israeli hostages. obviously it wants to use those hostages quite frankly inhumanely and cynically as leverage against israel, and i think especially once you get to the question of the soldiers who are held hostage, likely it will be much harder to secure their release from hamas. iworry harder to secure their release from hamas. i worry that this will be a very lengthy process of trying to focus on the hostages and frankly hamas has every incentive to try and drag it out as much as possible, offering fewer hostages in exchange for more time of a ceasefire and so forth.- ceasefire and so forth. now that we have _ ceasefire and so forth. now that we have seen - ceasefire and so forth. now that we have seen some . ceasefire and so forth. now that we have seen some hostages released, going forth now, how does that may be recalculate israel's two stated goals? one, israel's two stated goals? one, israel says it wants to eliminate hamas, and the other is to free all of the hostages. is that now something it may have to recalibrate? i is that now something it may have to recalibrate?— have to recalibrate? i don't know that _ have to recalibrate? i don't know that israel _ have to recalibrate? i don't know that israel is - have to recalibrate? i don't know that israel is now - have to recalibrate? i don't l know that israel is now going to recalibrate, it has stated multiple war aims, and israel has so far shown a willingness to try to pursue both of those in parallel, getting the hostages released and eliminating hamas. israel conducted a lengthy campaign in gaza before there were any substantial hostage releases so i don't really think we have any reason to believe israel will cease to presume that campaign once the pause is stopped. campaign once the pause is sto ed. �* , ., ., stopped. aside from what we saw yesterday. _ stopped. aside from what we saw yesterday. this — stopped. aside from what we saw yesterday, this brief _ stopped. aside from what we saw yesterday, this brief hours - yesterday, this brief hours long delay, this has been a successful work of diplomacy from many different countries. how will this go to a longer lasting peace in the future? in past gaza conflict, you would see a ceasefire put in place and i would often become permanent. it would last long, it would give the parties time to negotiate a longer term, not peace, but a truce, as it were. this case though it's quite different obviously. this case is qualitatively different from past gaza conflict over the past gaza conflict over the past 20 years, and israel has been quite adamant about still wanting, still intending and insisting upon the elimination of hamas, and we have even heard that from the families of the hostages may have not yet been freed, that the elimination of hamas is an important goalfor elimination of hamas is an important goal for israel, and so i think in this case it is far less likely that there ceasefire, even if it is extended for another couple of days or four days, extended for another couple of days orfour days, is extended for another couple of days or four days, is going to turn into a permanent settlement or a permanent ceasefire. settlement or a permanent ceasefire-— ceasefire. michael singh, managing _ ceasefire. michael singh, managing director - ceasefire. michael singh, managing director and i ceasefire. michael singh, - managing director and senior fellow at the washington institute, thank you for joining us. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. the irish writer paul lynch has taken home the booker prize forfiction for his novel prophet song. he spoke to our media editor katie razzalljust after his win. i don't quite believe it, to be honest with you.— i don't quite believe it, to be honest with you. well, you have won it for _ honest with you. well, you have won it for this _ honest with you. well, you have won it for this dystopian - honest with you. well, you have won it for this dystopian novel i won it for this dystopian novel about— won it for this dystopian novel about an — won it for this dystopian novel about an island set in the future _ about an island set in the future potentially which is sliding _ future potentially which is sliding into totalitarianism. yeah — sliding into totalitarianism. yeah. , ., , yeah. the 'udges that they were lookin: yeah. the judges that they were looking for _ yeah. the judges that they were looking for something _ yeah. the judges that they were looking for something timely - looking for something timely that would also endure and i wonder_ that would also endure and i wonder as he watched last week the events unfolding, the riots on the — the events unfolding, the riots on the streets of dublin, i wonder_ on the streets of dublin, i wonder whether you thought, "goodness, my novel is very timely" _ "goodness, my novel is very timel ." �*goodness, my novel is very timely-'— timely." the book is much further along, _ timely.�* the book is much further along, shall- timely." the book is much further along, shall be - timely." the book is muchl further along, shall be say, timely." the book is much - further along, shall be say, in the process of realisation. in terms of, like, the events the other day, it's small but you can see where it can lead to. in my own case, i think the counterfactual is a really important, to write something that can ask questions about the now and the future. the prize recognizes the best original novel written in the english language and published in the uk. you're live with bbc news. the governor of the us state of vermont, phil scott, says the shooting of three students of palestinian descent should not incite more hate or divisiveness. police say the men, all aged 20, were visiting a relative in the city of burlington for thanksgiving when they were confronted by a white man and shot. they are not critically injured. police say two of the students had wearing traditional scarves at the time. burlington police are investigating "the potential "that this was a hate crime" but the exact motive is still unknown. in sierra leone, a daytime curfew will be lifted after most of the leaders of an attack on military barracks and prisons were arrested. you can see the empty streets in the capital freetown earlier on sunday after the government said security forces had repelled "renegade soldiers" who broke into a prison, setting inmates free. sierra leone's information minister told the bbc some of the assailants were in military gear but it was too early to say whether there had been an attempted coup. a new night—time curfew will be put in place beginning tuesday and flights at the international airport have been cancelled. the president of sierra leone said calm has been restored. i thank all citizens for complying with the security measures and advise everyone to remain vigilant and to co—operate with the security forces. let us not succumb to fear or division. let us come together as one people, one nation. rescue efforts are at a standstill at the site of the collapsed tunnel in northern india where 41 construction workers have been trapped for 15 days. a drilling machine that was being used to make a hole for the workers to climb through has completely broken down. our south asia correspondent samira hussein sent this report. this was day ten. the first glimpses of the 41 construction workers. "we will get to you quickly. don't worry." five days later, they are still cut off from the outside world. the men were constructing a roadway through this mountain when a nearby landslide crushed partially built tunnel, trapping them behind piles of rubble. as crews raced to get them out, family and friends wait in anticipation. this man has been here for ii wait in anticipation. this man has been here for 11 days, waiting for his son. he lost one son in a construction accident two years ago and says he cannot face that grief again. translation: i he cannot face that grief again. translation: i pray to god but, please, _ again. translation: i pray to god but, please, don't- again. translation: i pray to god but, please, don't take i god but, please, don't take this son away from me. all i want is that my son should be out. this is my prayer. this is my last wish. out. this is my prayer. this is my last wish-— my last wish. for days, we waited while _ my last wish. for days, we waited while biscuit - my last wish. for days, we waited while biscuit was i waited while biscuit was drilled a hole through the rubble but the machine keeps getting stuck and, finally, it has failed completely. what makes this rescue operation so complicated is that they are not only dealing with rubble and debris but they are also dealing with construction material, pieces of metal, and that's what the drill keeps getting caught on. remember, this tunnel was still being built and it collapsed. but before when it collapsed. now the plan is to manually dig the remaining 8—10 metres — a process that could take several days, which means more waiting for the men inside and their families on the outside. semeru hussein, bbc news. —— samira hussein, bbc news. let's take a look now at some other stories making headlines around the world. new zealand's new centre—right government has been sworn in at a ceremony in wellington. the new prime minister, christopher luxon has pledged to reverse many policies of the previous labour government, rolling back the use of the maori language and its ban on oil and gas exploration. winston peters will serve as foreign minister. he leads the populist, socially conservative new zealand first party and has already been foreign minister twice before. heavy snowfall across romania and moldova has killed one person and left more than 400 regions without power. a red warning was issued for eastern romania where winds reached as high as 100km per hour. and in bulgaria, officials issued a state of emergency for large parts of the country. the vatican says that pope francis is suffering from "lung inflammation" the day after it said he was suffering from a mild flu. the 86—year—old skipped his sunday appearance at the window overlooking st peter's square, instead delivering his traditional noon blessing from a ch