Hamas released two more hostages on Monday for “compelling humanitarian” reasons following negotiations with Qatar and Egypt.
The hostages were identified as Nurit Yitzhak and Yochved Lifshitz, two Israeli citizens who have been handed over to the Red Cross, sources briefed on the matter told CNBC.
The women, said to be in their 80s, were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, with their husbands still in captivity under Hamas, The Jerusalem Post reports.
The militant group said on its Telegram channel that it would release them for “compelling humanitarian” reasons.
Abu Ubaiba, a military spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades operating in the West Bank, claimed that Hamas was voluntarily releasing the two women despite Israel’s refusal to stop its airstrikes against the terrorist group.
“We have decided to release them for compelling and satisfactory humanitarian reasons despite the fact that the occupation committed more than eight violations of the procedures agreed with the brother mediators that the occupation would follow during this day to complete the handover process,” the spokesperson said. he said on Telegram.
The hostages were identified as Nurit Cooper (left) and Yochved Lifshitz.
Images broadcast on Egyptian television showed Lifshitz and Cooper lying on stretchers in ambulances while being evaluated by doctors.
The duo’s release comes as sources in Gaza say around 50 more hostages with dual citizenship will be handed over to the Red Cross later today, i24 News reports.
The transfer will reportedly take place in the Khan Yunis area, just south of the Gaza Strip, and the hostages’ freedom will be secured through additional negotiations through Qatar, the outlet reports.
Lifshitz was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, with her husband still in captivity under Hamas. Al Qahera News/Handout via REUTERS Oded and Yocheved Lifshitz, from Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Israeli Embassy in Kenya
In an interview with Haaretz, Lifshitz’s grandson said the family is “happy and satisfied with the official announcement” about his return and is hopeful that it is “just the beginning of what is to come.”
“We look forward to his release and that of the other hostages in our kibbutz and in general,” said the grandson, Daniel Lifshitz. “We hope she is well. We are going to see it now.
Israel has yet to comment on the new releases after criticizing the prospect of Yitzhak and Lifshitz’s freedom as “lying propaganda” by Hamas to try to delay the Jewish state’s imminent invasion of Gaza.
The two women are the latest hostages freed by Hamas after the terrorist group freed American mother and daughter Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Raanan last week.
Hamas freed two Red Cross hostages on Monday. AFP via Getty Images
State Department spokesman Matt Miller declined to comment Monday on the specific U.S. role in negotiating the release of the hostages, who may include at least 10 U.S. citizens still missing since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7.
“We want all the hostages released and we want to see them released unconditionally and we want to see them released as soon as possible,” Miller told reporters.
At the end of an unrelated event Monday afternoon, President Biden said it was imperative that Hamas release all of its hostages before ceasefire negotiations could begin.
“We should release those hostages and then we can talk,” he said.
Hamas is holding some 222 hostages in Gaza, according to new estimates from the Israel Defense Forces.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn