Hamas releases 2 Israeli hostages for ’humanitarian reasons’

mangaloretoday.com

Jerusalem, Oct 24, 2023: Hamas on Monday announced that they have released two Israeli hostages who were being held in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian group said the elderly hostages were released for “humanitarian reasons".

 

"We decided to release them for humanitarian and poor health grounds ... Despite that, the enemy refused to receive them last Friday," a Hamas statement said.

Local media identified the released hostages as Nurit Cooper (79) and Yocheved Lifshitz (85). The women and their husbands were taken hostage from their homes in the kibbutz of Nir Oz near the Gaza border. Their husbands were not released.

There was no formal announcement from the Israeli side.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross said it facilitated the release of the hostages, "transporting them out of Gaza this evening".

The ICRC said, "Our role as a neutral intermediary makes this work possible (and) we are ready to facilitate any future release."

Egyptian news agency also reported on late Monday that the released captives have arrived at the Egyptian Rafah Crossing.

"Egypt’s efforts have succeeded in releasing two females from the Gaza Strip," the agency added.

The reports also added that Tel Aviv had no part in the process.

Hamas had released an American mother and daughter, Judith and Natalie Raanan, on Friday, nearly two weeks after Hamas gunmen carried out an October 7 cross-border assault. As per the estimate by the Israeli army, at least 220 Israeli citizens are under Hamas’s captivity.

Meanwhile, asked about a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, US President Joe Biden on Monday said hostages held by the Palestinian group should be released first. "We should have those hostages released and then we can talk," Biden said.

Israel increased its air raids on Gaza on Monday. Gaza’s health ministry said 436 people had been killed in bombardments over the past 24 hours alone.

Courtesy: India Today