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 80 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.
Release for “humanitarian reasons”
According to Hamas, the release of the two women was 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 not only had 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.
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.
A mother and her daughter were unexpectedly released on Friday. Qatar had brokered the release of the two US citizens.
