Hamas releases second round of hostages after delay, no Americans handed over in second swap

Israel announced that 17 hostages were swapped in exchange for Palestinian prisoners Saturday night, following a tense spate of negotiations to keep the fragile four-day cease-fire alive. 

No Americans were part of the exchange, however.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on X, that 13 Israeli citizens and four Thai nationals were released on the second day of hostage exchanges — a deal baked into the Israel-Hamas cease-fire agreement. 

The ages of the Israeli hostages ranged from 3 to 67 years old. 

“The Government of Israel embraces the 17 hostages who are returning to Israel today: 13 of our citizens and four Thai nationals, who are en route to Israeli territory,” Mr. Netanyahu’s office said. “Their families have been updated by the responsible officials that they are en route to the country.”

President Biden did not know when the American hostages would be released but expected that they would be part of the hostage swap deal at some point during the cease-fire.