Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages held captive since the onset of its war with Israel in Gaza — but Americans were not included.
Fifty hostages are expected to be released during the four-day truce between the militant group and Israel. The White House has been optimistic that at least three of those freed will be Americans.
The group is expected to release a second wave of hostages Saturday. Hamas provided negotiators in Qatar and Egypt with another list of those expected to be freed in the new exchange — and it has been passed to Israel, according to The Associated Press.
In this release, another 13 hostages would be exchanged for 39 prisoners, AP reported. However, Israel said it expects 14.
Still, Americans were not on the list, a White House official told CNN.
The Biden administration says it remains “hopeful” that in the coming days, two American women and a 4-year-old girl will be freed as part of the deal.
“We are early in the process that will see at least 50 women and children released during the first phase of the agreement,” a White House official said, according to CNN. “We are hopeful that will include three dual national women and children, who are American citizens.”
“This will unfold over the coming days,” they added. “We will not comment on individual cases as the process is underway.”
Nearly 40 of an expected 150 Palestinian prisoners were also released Friday.
The first release consisted of 13 Israelis, mostly women and children; about 10 Thai nationals, and a Filipino, according to a spokesman of the Qatar Foreign Ministry, which helped negotiate the deal.
In a press conference Friday night, President Biden said while he couldn’t confirm the health status of the Americans believed to be among the hostages, he expects them to be part of the deal.
“We don’t know when that will occur, but we expect it to occur,” Biden said.
The president said he is “hopeful” that the truce will be extended, and more hostages will be released.
“That’s our goal,” he said.
Amid the short-term cease-fire, more than 200 trucks were also permitted into Gaza via the Rafah border crossing carrying critical fuel supplies and other humanitarian aid, officials said.
On Saturday, 61 trucks carrying food, water and medical supplies were sent to northern Gaza, the largest aid convoy to reach the area since the start of the war, AP reported.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.