Fragile Gaza truce is back on track as Egypt says it has received lists for a third exchange
Israel and Hamas appeared to be back on track Sunday after the release of a second group of militant-held hostages and Palestinians from Israeli prisons, and Egypt said it had received new lists for an expected third release. In a separate development, Hamas announced Sunday that one of its top commanders had been killed, without saying when or how. Israel's military confirmed it.
The second exchange was delayed for hours Saturday after Hamas accused Israel of violating the agreement, which has brought the first significant pause in seven weeks of war marked by the deadliest Israeli-Palestinian violence in decades and vast destruction and displacement across the Gaza Strip. Hamas later released 13 Israelis and four Thais, while Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners.
Diaa Rashwan, chair of the Egyptian State Information Services, said Egypt had received a list of 13 hostages Hamas will release Sunday, and another list of 39 Palestinians that Israel is expected to free.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told NBC's «Meet the Press» that the US had «reason to believe» that an American hostage would be released Sunday and said there were hopes it would be Abigail Edan, the 4-year-old who lost her parents in the Oct 7 Hamas attack.
Sullivan also said President Joe Biden would speak with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later Sunday.
Hamas and other militant groups seized some 240 people during the rampage across southern Israel that ignited the war.
Forty-four have been released, one was freed by Israeli forces and two were found dead inside Gaza.
Some Israelis have accused Netanyahu of not doing enough to bring them back. Pressure from the hostages' families has sharpened the dilemma facing the
