welcome, i'm michael holmes, appreciate your company. we begin this hour in israel, 13 israeli citizens and 11 foreign nationals are out of gaza and back in israel after 49 days as hostages of hamas. the four-day pause in the fighting that made their release possible is entering day two and appears to be holding. a live look at gaza, where it's 8:00 a.m. israel says it has received a list of israeli hostages who should be released sometime on saturday and has notified their families. according to the israeli source, several children are on the list. friday, 13 were israelis and 5 were foreign nationals. among the non-israelis, ten thai and one filipino citizens. they're getting checked out in tel aviv. a spokesperson lauded the release but cautioned the process is far from over. >> translator: the sight of those who have safely crossed the border into israel evokes a profound sense of relief, yet our hearts remain with the hostages still held in gaza. tonight we embrace the families, keeping them constantly in our thoughts. it is our moral obligation to ensure a safe return of everyone home. we're only at the beginning of the process, we're continuing to implement the plan for the return of the abductees, nothing is certain until it is accomplished. we must be prepared. >> the first images of the hostages was video taken by hamas. cnn had no control over the content. we show it now and explain what it shows and does not. >> they kidnapped and killed, now hamas is showing gunmen releasing israelis in gaza. for many, these are disturbing scenes. this 9-year-old embraced as he's set free. an old woman carried by a masked man, as palestinians cheer. after 49 long days of captivity in gaza, aid workers from the red cross drive them into egypt and freedom. egyptian television shows a convoy heading to the crossing, then the hostages, including ten thais, a filipino and children israeli women and children disembarking for checks. the israeli military posted grainy video when they finally re-entered the country. a step says the prime minister toward bringing them home. >> translator: we've completed the return of the first of our hostages. each is a whole world, but i emphasize to the families and citizens of israel we're committed to return all our hostages. >> reporter: most of the hostages released in the first group under the temporary truce were taken from near a small israeli community near gaza ravaged by hamas on october 7th. at least 38 people there were killed, more than 70 abducted. people like danielle and her 5-year-old daughter both freed in the latest release, but the relatives they were visiting with hamas attacked remain unaccounted for as hostages. behind every release, a poignant reminder of those left behind. like the family of omri, his brother-in-law and niece killed, sister and her three children still hostages. yet he's optimistic. >> the best is in front of us, it's going to come. whatever happens, we cannot change. not with us, a beautiful girl is not with us anymore. >> reporter: there's still a chance. >> yes, to bring back what is left from the broken family. >> reporter: a broken family in a country of shattered lives. matthew chance, cnn, tel aviv. >> cnn's scott mcclain is live from istanbul. tell us more about what happened friday and what is expected today. >> if all goes according to plan, we should see a similar scene play out each of the next three days as all 50 israelgy hostages are handed over in exchange for 150 palestinian prisoners as well. also the foreign nationals, ten thais and one filipino who were released. it's not clear how many more might be released. there are still 20 thais held hostage inside of gaza. you mentioned the israelis have the list of hostages that will be released today. we won't know their names until they're safely on israeli soil. all is rather delicate. it is entirely possible the truce expected to last four days could hold longer, allowing hostages beyond the initial 50 and 150 to be released. ten per day if that were to be the case. but all of this is delicate. we already saw clashes between idf and people who had gathered outside of a prison in west bank which was used to facilitate the release of some prisoners held by israel in the west bank. so perhaps wouldn't take much to derail all of this. the families are waiting anxiously to see what happened next. you mentioned and we saw it in matthew's piece, video taken by hamas, them handing over their part of the hostages, and people were cheering. hamas has plenty to cheer about in all of this, because they have few good cards to play in this war but the hostages are one of them. while this truce was brokered by israel, hamas, the u.s. and egypt, it was implemented carefully on the ground by the red cross who emphasizes all of this is complicated. listen. >> sometime it looks like it's just driving people from one place to another, but it's about agreeing on when, how, what and all this needs to be coordinated with different movement also outside gaza. >> as you know, the hostages taken from gaza were driven to egypt briefly and back into israel where they were taken to various hospital as cross the country by helicopterm. one of the landing sites was in tel aviv, as the vehicles went past, people on the streets started clapping and cheering, evidence of how emotional this is for people on both sides of this. >> scott, appreciate the update, from istanbul, appreciate that. scott was talking about 11 foreign nationals, ten thai, one p filipino, they're spending the freedom in a hospital undergoing testing as well. tell us about the freed hostages and the reaction in their home countries to news of their release. >> reporter: michael, the last few weeks, it's been such negative news from gaza, hasn't it? but here there is positivity, relief and hope. we were hearing about the precarious nature of the negotiations and agreements, but there's hope here. the thai government, as it put out press releases talking about their hostages being released, was asking hamas of the remaining 20 be treated humanely and be released. one of the thai hostages released, her mother spoke to our producers in bangkok, she cried out of happiness when she realized her daughter was getting on the bus. recognized her hair style and way she walks. some of the families didn't know if it would be their loved ones. jimmy pacheko, a filipino who has been released, a father of three, this is not just one hostage but a family, a community. many are migrant workers who went to israel to earn money for a better life and it's a sad fact many of them have been caught up in the terrible attacks that happened on october 7th. this is why high numbers are reported as still abducted or being released in today's agreement. >> thank you, from singapore. 39 palestinians are free after they were released from israeli prisons on friday as part of the hostage agreement with hamas. they returned to their home towns and families with hugs and celebrations in the west bank and jerusalem. but for some, the joy of freedom tempered by the suffering ongoing in gaza. >> reporter: a joyous celebration after six years in an israeli prison. convicted and sentenced to ten years in prison at the age of 17 for attempted murder. police say they found a knife in possession in the old city of jerusalem, a charge she and her family have long denied. she's one of 39 prisoners, all women and minors, released from jails in israel friday. in exchange for the release of hostages who had been held by hamas in gaza. many of the details released, seen people carried on people's shoulders. families waiting among them, 15 minors have been carried up the road on people's shoulders to cheering, celebration and even fireworks being set off. we've been speaking to people, including relatives who didn't want the crowds. >> translator: the celebration is not necessary, they need to be mindful of us in gaza. the celebration is wrong, i'm torn to pieces, have mercy on us. they can be joyful but the joy is in the heart, we're dying in gaza, have respect for us a little. >> reporter: the release of the first group begins as they begin a full-day truce. a much needed respite for citizens in gaza. according to the hamas run health ministry, gazans have been killed. israel says it's targeting hamas in the attack that killed israeli citizens, but in gaza civilians pay the highest price. more than 8,000 palestinians remain in israeli jails, including more than 3,000, according to the palestinian commission for detainees and ex-prisoners affairs held in ministry of detention, no clear charges or legal process. for those in occupied west bank friday night, this is a welcome home of in their eyes long overdue justice. >> people want to be together in this moment. however folks internalize that for their emotional reaction to it, that's for them to speak to. i think people want to be together, to welcome home prisoners. that's part of the spirit of being palestinian. >> reporter: with over 100 palestinian prisoners said for release in the next few days, scenes like this are expected to continue. some say at too high a price. cnn, jerusalem. >> the united nations says 137 trucks filled with humanitarian goods were off-loaded in friday the first day of the truce, the largest aid convoy since the october 7th hamas attack on israel. u.n. humanitarian affairs offense says 130,000 liters of fuel and four trucks of cooking oil were also delivered on friday, and the agency says the food, water, medical supplies and other essential items will help hundreds of thousands of people in gaza. a spokesperson for the u.n. childrens fund is calling for more aid and safe conditions for aid workers. >> on the ground our colleagues are saying having this pause is essential to be able to get to the families and children who have been suffering so many weeks and under attack. but it's not going to finish the job, so to speak. we need more aid to come in, more safety for humanitarian workers to operate. remember at least 100 u.n. colleagues died since the october 7th events. without more ceasefires, without more pauses, the situation will only worsen. talking about hundreds of thousands of children affected in one of the most densely populated places on the planet. >> some of the american hostages held by hamas could be soon released. what president biden is saying about efforts to bring them home when we come back. before the end of the four-day truce between israel and hamas, three american hostages held in gaza are expected to be released. including a young girl who turned 4 while in captivity. president joe biden said he will not stop until they're all brought home. cnn is with them. >> reporter: president biden welcomed the initial release of the hostages held by hamas, said it was just a start to the process. but sad he believes it unfolded. but it does come as americans were not included in the initial batch of hostages released. the president said it's his hope and expectation three americans will be coming out in coming days, two women and 4-year-old abigail adan. it was her birthday friday, her parents were killed in the october 7th attack by hamas and he's been held hostage for weeks. president biden had few details to offer when exactly they would be getting out. listen to what he had to tell reporters. >> we don't know when it's going to occur but we expect it to occur. we don't know the list and how soon they'll be released, but we know the numbers and hope and expectation is will be soon. >> of all the americans, do we know the conditions, are they alive? >> we don't know. >> reporter: still unanswered questions about the fate of the american hostages held by hamas. but president biden expressed some optimism this pause in the fighting currently slated for four days, he believes it could be extended to get even more than the 50 women and children negotiated in the initial deal. president biden had been working the phone in the week, including to egypt, qatar and israel, he will be staying in contact with the leaders in the region to keep the deal on track. there's a new wave of russian drone attacks on ukraine's capital, kyiv. at least two were wounded saturday morning and there are fires at several locations. crews on the ground heard some of the explosions that rattled the capital. dana is live with more. this sounds like a coordinated and large number of drones. >> reporter: yeah, this is the biggest attack of drones on kyiv in some time. a record number of drones according to the military. it started just after 2:30 a.m. this morning, and it's still ongoing. we understand there are at least three attack drones in the sky over the capital. we heard loud explosions as the a anti-aircraft systems were working overtime. our producer heard drones over her house, buzzing in the air. it's really offputting obviously for the residents of kyiv. multiple buildings have been hit, a residential building and a kindergarten. as you mentioned, two people have been injured. the drones have been coming in multiple directions, targeting the city, as i say, this is the most intense drone attack on the capital in some time. there was nothing for almost two months, then the last couple of weeks, it started back again. and we know that the russians have obviously been stockpiling, but what has happened in the last six hours certainly is the largest that people can remember for some time. as i say, ukrainians have been expecting this. winter has arrived. it has been snowing the past couple of days, freezing temperatures, obviously the plans of the russians is to target ukraine's energy infrastructure just like last year. >> yeah. and drag things out. anna, thanks so much. anna coren. south african prison authorities have granted parole to a sprinter convicted of killing his girlfriend in 2013. her mother is not convinced he's been rehabilitated and she's worried for the safety of other women. he was known as the blade runner for the carbon fiber prosthetic legs he wore as an atlantic sprinter. for international viewers, quest's world of wonder is next. in north america, i'll be back with more on day two of the truce between israel and hamas and another imminent release of hostages and prisoners. in order for small businesses to thrive, they need to be smart, efficient, savvy. making the most of every opportunity. that's why comcast business is introducing the small business bonus. for a limited time you can get up to a $1000 prepaid card with qualifying internet. yep, $1000. so switch to business internet from the company with the largest fastest reliable network and that powers more businesses than anyone else. learn how you can get $1000 back for your business today. comcast business. powering possibilities. we are a little more than a hour into the second day of the temporary pause in the fighting between israel and hamas, which appears to be holding. israel has a list of hostages expected to be released in the next hour as part of the agreement. 13 women and children were released and palestinian prisoners, also women and children, were released. ten thai and one filipino were freed as part of a separate hostage deal, all receiving medical care. i'm joined by peter leighton, a visiting fellow at griffith asia institute, speaking from brisbane in australia. how delicate are truces and exchanges like these? what could scuttle it as days go by? >> probably many things. at tactic level, we can expect a few breakages of the truce in terms of small arms fire and maybe some rockets. the israelis have been cautioned about flying surveillance drones over the area and watching where the hostages are released from. there are a few things. but i think both sides have a vested interest in maintaining the truce at least for four days. i'm reasonably optimistic the fragile truce will in the main hold. >> if it does, what next? could it lead to a lasting piece or be a temporary respite followed by a return to war? >> we've got a number of conflicting problems for the israelis in particular, but for hamas also. the israelis have said they'll maintain the truce as long as hamas releases about ten hostages each day, that could take them until the middle of next month. there's a possibility this truce may be maintained for quite an extended period. however, when the truce ends or getting towards the end of the truce period, the israelis have the problem of they have decided the aim of the war is destroy hamas. they can't let hamas survive. so they need to find some government to take over managing gaza and stop security attacks on israel to end the war. the israelis say they don't want to occupy gaza, and the u.s. doesn't want them to either. i can't see how the israelis can get themselves out of the war because hamas will be extremely difficult to destroy without -- without virtually occupying the whole of gaza. >> there was an israeli politics -- including the prime minister himself, resistance to a ceasefire of any kind originally. we cease, they fire. that's the mantra. what regrouping opportunity does a multiday pause give hamas and how does it hamper the idea of momentum, which is always important in the field of battle. >> hamas' point of view, it gives them a chance to rest their forces. their forces are just light infantry units. they will be extremely tired and worn out. so this will give them a chance to at least sleep. on the other hand of course, the supplies for the 2 million gazans are still running out. israel has allowed some resupply but it's meager. people are desperately short of food and water. on the israeli side, it will give them a chance to rotate their forces, rotate the army units who have been engaged in the battle the last week or so and replace them with fresh units and they'll be able to replenish and restock all their forward supply depots and get the air force organized for the next phase which could be just keeping the extensive bombing campaign going. >> obviously for hamas, they knew when they launched this they wanted to take hostages and take a lot of them. what -- when it comes to the truce, what is in it for hamas? are they getting what they want? especially if israel goes back full force to fighting as it promises it will? what is in it more hamas to be releasing hostages? >> i think the important thing as far as they're concerned is buy themselves time. the longer the war goes on, more international pressure will play on israel and perhaps make them stop the war early. hamas can only survive by making israel tired of the war, if you like, or external pressure on israel. i think the truce and maybe releasing ten hostages a day drags everything out and gives hamas breathing space, if you like. >> how difficult is it in a military sense for israel to turn the war back on before the hostages are all released? it's a difficult calculus, do they have daily pauses until 250 are released? or go back to fighting? there's internal debate in israel about it, even cabinet level. >> restarting the conflict is straightforward from a military standpoint. they've been fighting over a month, forces are in place and they have supplies. but the politics would be remarkably difficult because now we seem to have a break in the conflict, breaking this short-term peace will be very difficult. there are issues, as you hinted at there, what would the israelis do next. they've hinted that they'll attack in the south and in the southern coastal regions and warning all civilians to move away from certain areas. but there's 2 million gazans, and finding space for them is hard, and winter is coming, a lot are homeless and tent cities are spring up now. there's a major humanitarian problem here and israelis are caught. they can't end the war before they destroy hamas, if they keep on with the war,