The first day of the Israeli-Hamas operational ‘pause’ has apparently delivered what it promised. For the first time since Hamas’ gruesome October 7 massacres, the violence has largely ceased — for now, even in southern Lebanon as Hezbollah has decided to pause unilaterally.

And as promised, the Hamas terrorists have released 13 hostages from the 10/7 attacks in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners — women and children in both cases:

The first group of Israeli hostages are now in the hands of the staff of the International Committee for Red Cross and are in ambulances on the way from Khan Younis in southern Gaza to the Rafah crossing into Israel, an Israeli official says.

The families of the hostages are on their way to hospitals in Israel, where they are to be reunited later.

Today’s release of 13 hostages — mothers and children — is the first of four expected stages. Hamas has agreed to release some 50 hostages over the four days of the truce with Israel — all children, mothers and other women. The sides agreed that Hamas may eventually free more, in exchange for an extension of the ceasefire by an extra day for each 10 Israeli hostages.

The hostages crossed first into Egypt, and match up to the list provided:

The 13 hostages released from Hamas on Friday are currently in Red Cross custody inside Egypt, N12 reported citing an Israeli official. Another Israeli source stated that the list of the released hostages for the first day corresponds to those who are currently in Egypt.

Separately, the Thai government reached a deal through Iran to return its citizens captured by Hamas. Thai agricultural workers in the southern kibbutzes got slaughtered along with Israelis and others captured. Hamas has agreed to release a dozen Thais unilaterally, although it’s not clear yet how many Thai hostages they actually hold:

Additionally, 12 Thais will be released by Hamas in addition to the 13 released, according to Egypt’s Communications Ministry. The negotiations between Hamas and the government of Thailand were conducted separately from the negotiations with Israel and through a different mediator – Iran, N12 reported. Thailand’s Prime Minister confirmed their release.

It was previously reported that 23 Thai hostages will be released unconditionally by Hamas, mediated by Iran, according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed from late Thursday.

But guess which country won’t see any of its citizens returned today? It’s the one whose president is taking credit for brokering the deal in the first place. And according to CNN, the White House is only “hopeful” that American hostages will get released at some point over the next four days:

American citizens are not expected to be among the first group of hostages released Friday, a US official tells CNN.

The official added they remain hopeful that there will be Americans among the initial 50.

“Hopeful”? We didn’t demand the release our own hostages while pressuring Israel to take a dodgy ‘pause’ from terrorists? Why not? Our interest in this should have been to protect American citizens, and then to deal with the terrorist group that slaughtered dozens of Americans on 10/7. In fact, Biden and his team promoted their efforts to get this deal by specifically referencing an American hostage, Avigail Iden, and then bragged about how the deal shows Biden working on behalf of Americans:

Today’s deal is a testament to the tireless diplomacy and determination of many dedicated individuals across the United States Government to bring Americans home.

No it doesn’t, at least not according to CNN’s “US official” source. It looks more like Biden’s tireless determination to keep hostaging a vital strategy for Hamas. It adds to the perception that Biden is applying pressure tactics on Israel to withdraw from Gaza and end the war while leaving Hamas enough capability to attack again.

So what’s next? Hamas leader says they will abide by the ‘truce,’ but that its aims have not changed:

Haniyeh further says that “Hamas will pursue its effort to halt the Israeli assault on Gaza, complete the prisoner exchange, end the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip and “attack” on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in addition to enabling the Palestinian people to realize their legitimate national right for an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, self-determination and the return [of Palestinian refugees].”

Note the use of the name ‘Jerusalem,’ as opposed to East Jerusalem. Hamas wants all of Israel under its control, including and especially Jerusalem. Hamas has always meant “From the river to the sea” literally, no matter what its apologists and terror-symps in the West claim.

Israel still insists that hostage exchanges are merely a pause:

Walla reported, quoting Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, saying that “there will be a brief pause,” during his meeting with his Italian counterpart. “And then we will continue to operate with full military force against Hamas. We will not stop until we achieve our goals – the destruction of Hamas and the return of all the hostages.”

This time they mean it. One has to wonder why Biden wants to run interference for Hamas on that outcome, especially when he didn’t get any firm guarantees of American hostages.

Update: The Israeli hostages are now in the hands of the Israelis. Here’s video of their arrival to cheering crowds who waited hours in anticipation:

First look on a night of anticipatipn: ICRC vehicles carrying elderly and others across Rafah border crossing. Filmed by NPR producer in Gaza, Anas Baba. pic.twitter.com/4Njg33MaBS

— Daniel Estrin (@DanielEstrin) November 24, 2023