The Islamist Hamas has released two more hostages in the Gaza Strip, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). A spokesman confirmed in Geneva that his organization supported the liberation and brought the two people out of the Palestinian territory on Monday evening. “We hope they will be reunited with their loved ones soon,” he said.
According to Israeli media reports, they are two older Israeli women. They were kidnapped from the town of Nir Oz in the border area with the Gaza Strip. Both of their husbands remain in Hamas captivity. All four are between 79 and 85 years old.
Hamas’ military wing had previously said it had released two more hostages in the Gaza Strip. The state-affiliated Egyptian television channel Al-Kahira News reported that the two women had arrived at the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. The station showed footage of them lying in ambulances and being treated. Egyptian medics told the broadcaster that the women’s condition was stable. One of the doctors reported that his patient told him that she was happy to be here with them now.
According to Israeli media reports, the grandson of one of the two released hostages said that he and his family were “happy” about his grandmother’s upcoming return home. The relatives have already spoken to her. “We hope she’s okay.”
Release for “humanitarian reasons”
According to Hamas, the release of the two women was said to have been brokered by Qatar and Egypt. The hostages were released “despite the crimes of the occupation” for “humanitarian reasons,” said Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida on the Al-Qassam Brigades’ Telegram channel.
There had previously been media reports about a possible imminent release of 50 hostages. There was initially no confirmation of this from either the US government or the International Red Cross. The New York Times had reported that Israel assumed that Hamas could release around 50 hostages who had not only Israeli but also other citizenship. Israeli media reported, citing a political representative, that they would not take part in a “selection” between foreign and Israeli hostages.
Israel thanks Egypt
Israel’s government thanked Egypt and the International Red Cross for their contribution. The 79 and 85-year-old women had been handed over to Israel’s army, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said overnight. They are on the way to an Israeli clinic. According to information, relatives are waiting for the two women there.
“We thank Egypt for its help and the Red Cross for its important role in saving lives,” it said. The army has also been “very active on all channels” in recent days to secure the release of the two hostages.
Meanwhile, Israel continues to push for the release of the Islamist Hamas hostages from the Gaza Strip, despite its planned ground offensive. “We are acting with every actor to free the abductees,” said Israel’s Energy Minister Israel Katz to the “Bild” newspaper. “We are doing everything we can to get her home.”
Fate of additional hostages unclear
There was initially no confirmation from the USA that a large number of hostages might be released in the near future. National Security Council communications director John Kirby said Monday in Washington that he could not comment. In principle, with regard to the negotiations, “at this stage of the process it is not possible to publicly report on the ongoing efforts,” said Kirby. We will continue to work with partners in the region to do everything possible to ensure that the hostages are released.
The Israeli broadcaster i24news, citing the Red Cross, reported that the rescue service was on its way to receive a group of around 50 abductees with dual citizenship. An agreement could be reached within hours if no new obstacles arise, it said.
Terrorists on behalf of Hamas, which rules in the Gaza Strip, carried out a massacre of civilians in Israel on October 7th. More than 1,400 people died during and in the following days. According to the Israeli army, at least 222 others were forcibly taken to the Gaza Strip, including several Germans. On Friday, a mother and her daughter were unexpectedly released. Qatar had brokered the release of the two US citizens.
