Hi, from CNN. I'm Emily Williams with the five things you need to know for Thursday, August 1st.

Two dozen detainees were released today after a historic prisoner swap between the US and Russia.

Among them are Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gerskovich, former US Marine Paul Whelan,

and Russian American journalist also Kerma Shava.

The released Americans are now en route to the United States.

Today's operation was the biggest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War. White House National Security

Advisor Jake Sullivan fought back tears as he reflected on the long process of

bringing these Americans home. I spent a lot of time with the families of Evan and Paul and also and most of the time as you can

imagine those are tough conversations but not today today.

Today, excuse me. Today was a very good day and we're going to build on it.

The body of Hamas political leader Ismael Hania has arrived in Doha in preparation for his burial on Friday.

Thousands gathered today in Iran's capital of Tehran to mourn Hania, whose killing has ratcheted up tensions in the Middle East.

Iran and Hamas have blamed Tinnia's assassination on Israel, but Israel still has not confirmed or denied involvement in his killing.

And new information today indicated Hania was killed with an explosive device

that had been planted in a guest house in Tehran about two months prior.

CNN's Jeremy Diamond, Tezmore.

I'm told that this bomb was actually planted there

about two months ago, and it was only detonated once Hania

was confirmed to be in the room, in his room, inside that guest house, killing him as well as a bodyguard

when that bomb was set off.

And I'm told that yesterday, Israeli officials briefed U.S. officials on this operation only after it had

actually happened. It does not appear that the United States had any forewarning

...