Israel-Gaza updates: Israel says ground operation underway in southern Gaza

At a news conference in Israel on Thursday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that "Israel has the right to do everything it can to ensure that the slaughter Hamas carried out on Oct. 7 can never be repeated."

9:14

Blinken delivers remarks following meeting with Netanyahu

Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Israel will resume military operations if hostage releases cease, but it's imperative Israel act in accordance with humanitarian law.

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"Hamas cannot remain in control of Gaza," Blinken said, but he reiterated Israel’s obligation to minimize civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip.

He said he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Netanyahu's war cabinet that it's imperative that "the massive loss of civilian life and displacement of the scale that we saw in northern Gaza not be repeated in [southern Gaza]."

"We made clear the imperative that before any operations go forward in southern Gaza, that there'd be a clear plan in place that puts a premium on protecting civilians, as well as sustaining and building on the humanitarian assistance that's getting into Gaza," Blinken said. "And the Israeli government agrees with that approach.”

-ABC News' Nate Luna

Six more Israeli hostages were released Thursday evening and are back in Israel, according to the Israeli prime minister's office.

They were identified as: 29-year-old Shani Goren, 41-year-old Nili Margalit, 30-year-old Ilana Griczewski Kimchi, 29-year-old Sapir Cohen, 18-year-old Bilal Elziadna and 17-year-old Aisha Alziadna.

This comes hours after two other Israeli hostages were released: 21-year-old Mia Schem and 40-year-old Amit Sosna.

In exchange for the eight hostages released Thursday and two Russian citizens who were released Wednesday, Israel will release 30 Palestinian prisoners -- 23 minors and seven women -- on Thursday, according to the Qatari foreign minister.

9:30

6 more Israeli hostages have been freed

The release of these hostages follows the release of 2 other Israelis earlier Thursday. Thirty Palestinian prisoners are set to be released as part of this exchange.

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Amid the cease-fire, the Israeli military is prepared to continue the war and forces are prepared to strike at any hour, Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari said.

Israel insisted on continuing the cease-fire -- which was extended by one day early Thursday morning -- "to bring back the hostage women and children, and this is what we will do [Thursday night] for tomorrow, as well," Hagari said in Hebrew.

"The mediators, Qatar and Egypt, are also obligated to carry out the set agreement in order for the pause to continue," he said.

The U.S. does not know where the last unaccounted for American woman is or what her condition is, according to National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.

Since the cease-fire began several days ago, only one American woman and one American child have been released by Hamas.

Asked by ABC News if the U.S. believes Hamas does not know where all the hostages are -- or if they're propagating that information as a delay tactic -- Kirby said even though some other groups also took hostages, "That’s not to say that Hamas doesn’t have visibility on that, or doesn’t have a way to find out about it."

Kirby said Israel has made clear that "when these pauses are over, they intend to go back at it."

"And as they make that decision, they’ll continue to find support from the U.S. in terms of tools and capabilities, the weapons systems they need, as well as the advice and the perspectives that we can offer in terms of urban warfare," Kirby said.

He added that he believes the U.S. approach has had a "practical effect" on the way Israel is conducting its operations. Kirby said the U.S. shared experiences with urban warfare in places like Fallujah and Mosul in Iraq, and that the Israelis were "receptive" to those lessons learned.

3:07

Tensions rise after attacks in Jerusalem and West Bank

ABC News analyst Mick Mulroy provide analysis on the latest on the attacks in Jerusalem and the West Bank, as well as the status of hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

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-ABC News' Selina Wang