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.

[I wonder if that’s some sort of slap at Joe Biden by Hamas, or whether the Israelis insisted on their own citizens first. ‘Hopeful’ sounds as though Biden and his team didn’t insist on the release of Americans in this deal. — Ed]