A 14-year-old survivor of the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack described how she hid in a safe room in her kibbutz for hours in an interview with ABC News' Kayna Whitworth on Thursday.

"The fear of what might happen -- that was the most terrifying part," Eli Shani Kozin said on ABC News Live.

While she hid, hearing gunfire and knocks at their door, Eli said she would see messages on WhatsApp from other children sharing what happened to them, such as seeing their houses set on fire.

"I kind of accepted death. I felt like, there's no way I'm going to get out of here safely," said Eli, whose father was killed and cousin kidnapped on Oct. 7.

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."

"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.

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.

Twelve hostages are back in Israeli territory in the latest exchange, according to the Israeli government.

The hostages include 10 Israelis and two foreign nationals, both from Thailand, officials said.

The Israeli citizens were identified as Tamar Metzger, 78; Ditza Hayman, 84; Norlin Babdila, 60; Ada Sagi, 75; Ophelia Edith Roitman, 77; Rimon Kirsht, 36; Merav Tal, 53; and the Leimberg family -- Gabriella Leimberg, 59, Mia Leimberg, 17, and Clara Marman, 63.

The IDF said the hostages were taken through Egypt before heading to a meeting point in Kerem Shalom, in Israel.

Five of the women -- Metzger, Hayman, Ada Sagi, Roitman and Tal -- were residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the communities hit hardest by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack.

"They were held captive, in harsh conditions and deprived of essential medical care. Two of the women released have been separated from their husbands, who remain in captivity," the kibbutz said in a statement. "The Nir Oz community is committed to support them, and their families, through the long recovery process ahead."

Thirty Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for the hostages, according to Qatari officials.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky