11/13/2023 6:27 p.m., updated 11/13/2023 7:03 p.m
A Hamas spokesman said the group was negotiating the release of hostages in exchange for a fiveday ceasefire in attacks on the Gaza Strip. According to the Sky News portal, the information was published by the AlQassam Brigades, the armed wing of the extremist group.
The proposal would have been forwarded to Qatari mediators. The group said it was ready to release 70 people, including women and children. “The ceasefire must include a complete ceasefire and allow aid and humanitarian assistance throughout the Gaza Strip,” spokesman Abu Ubaida said.
Israel estimates that Hamas captured 242 hostages in the surprise attack on October 7th. The group’s action triggered a historic escalation in the conflict between Israel and the extremist group. To date, the war has claimed more than 12,000 lives.
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The Israeli government’s retaliation against extremists took place through bombings and ground operations in the Gaza Strip. Given the high civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis among Palestinians, the Israeli government came under pressure to halt the conflict.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last Friday (October 11th) that “too many Palestinians had died” in the conflict between Israel and the extremist group Hamas. “Many have suffered in the last few weeks,” he told reporters in India.
1/8Judith Tai Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, were the first hostages released by Hamas. ▲Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Shoshana Raanan, mother and daughter, were kidnapped by Hamas. ▲Bomb attacks continue in the Gaza Strip. ▲Traces of destruction spread across the Gaza Strip ▲Israeli Defense Forces carry out bombings in retaliation for Hamas attacks ▲Scene in Gaza City ▲12345678
Hostages released
So far, Hamas has only released four hostages. Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Shoshana Raanan, mother and daughter respectively, were the first to be released on October 20. Both have American citizenship and were in Israel visiting a relative when they were captured.
Judith and Natalie were handed over to the International Red Cross and then met with Israeli troops. Hamas said in a statement that they were released on humanitarian grounds and to counter U.S. government accusations.
On October 23, the group released two additional women of Israeli nationality, identified as Nurit Yitzhak, 79, and Yochved Lifshitz, 85, who were reportedly released by the group on humanitarian grounds. Both left the Gaza Strip for Egypt.