Hamas, the militant group that governs the Gaza Strip, confirmed the release of 13 Israeli hostages in a Telegram text. The Israeli military said it was informed that those freed included four Thai citizens.

The transfer of the hostages is the first stage in the second day of exchanges between Israel and Hamas, and is part of an agreement that involves a four-day cessation of fighting and a flow of more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

As part of that agreement, another 39 people held in Israeli prisons were released, the Jerusalem Post reported. The same number was freed on Friday, all women and minors.

Earlier on Saturday, Hamas delayed the release of the hostages, saying Israel had violated the terms of the truce. Israel denied the accusation.

US President Joe Biden spoke with Qatari leaders on potential hold-ups to the deal and mechanisms to resolve them.

The last-minute snag underscored the fragility of the truce and deep distrust between Hamas and Israel. Hamas militants infiltrated Israel on 7 October, killing 1,200 people and abducting about 240 hostages. Their recovery has become an urgent priority for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s shaky government.

Read more in Daily Maverick: Israel-Palestine War

Israel unleashed its military might on the small, crowded Gaza Strip after the attack. At least 15,000 people have been killed, according to the health ministry run by Hamas, which the US and the European Union have designated a terrorist group.

Palestinian prisoner Israa Jaabis is welcomed by her family in the Jabel Mukaber neighbourhood of East Jerusalem following her release on 26 November 2023. (Photo: Erik Marmor / Getty Images)

People with an Israeli flag watch as an Israeli army helicopter carrying Israeli children hostages who were held by Hamas in Gaza, lands at the Schneider-Children’s Medical Center in Petah Tikva, Israel, on 24 November 2023. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Abir Sultan)

US President Joe Biden spoke earlier on Saturday with Qatari leaders “on potential hold-ups to the deal and mechanisms to resolve them”, said Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council. Qatar has been the main negotiator in efforts to release the hostages.

After weeks of negotiations, the two sides agreed last week to a limited truce, contingent on Hamas releasing 50 hostages and Israel freeing 150 women and minors held in the nation’s prisons.

Israeli security guards at the military prison of Ofer near Jerusalem on 25 November 2023, ahead of an expected release of Palestinian prisoners. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Atef Safadi)

An Israeli army helicopter carrying Israeli children hostages who were held by Hamas in Gaza, lands and is awaited by medical teams at the helipad of the Schneider-Children’s Medical Center in Petah Tikva, Israel, on 24 November 2023. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Abir Sultan)

The first exchange on Friday went as planned: Hamas released 13 Israelis, some with dual citizenship and all women and minors. In a separate deal, it also released 10 Thai citizens and a citizen of the Philippines.

Israel then freed a first group of 39 jailed Palestinians.

Biden, who said the first day had “gone well”, was kept informed of developments on Saturday and, after his call with the Qatari leaders, senior US officials were in “regular contact with the Israelis, Qataris and Egyptians to overcome hurdles”, Watson said. Bloomberg/DM