The Islamic Hamas has in accordance with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) released two more hostages in the Gaza Strip. A spokesman confirmed in Geneva that his organization supported the release and removed the two people from Palestinian territory on Monday night. “We hope they will be reunited with their loved ones soon,” he said.
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According to Israeli media reports, they are two older Israeli women. They were kidnapped in the city of Nir Oz, on the border with the Gaza Strip. Both 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. State-affiliated Egyptian television channel Al-Kahira News reported that the two women arrived at the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
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”, Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida said on the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades Telegram channel.
Previously, there were media reports about a possible imminent release of 50 hostages. There was initially no confirmation of this from the US government or the International Red Cross. The New York Times reported that Israel expected Hamas to release about 50 hostages who had not only Israeli citizenship but also other citizenship. Israeli media reported, citing a political representative, that it would not participate in a “selection” between foreign and Israeli hostages.
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Continuing efforts
Initially there was no confirmation from the US that a large number of hostages could be released in the near future. National Security Council communications director John Kirby said Monday in Washington that he could not comment. In principle, as far as negotiations are concerned, “at this stage of the process it is not possible to publicly report on ongoing efforts,” Kirby said. We will continue to work with partners in the region to do everything possible to ensure the hostages are released.
Israeli broadcaster i24news, citing the Red Cross, reported that the rescue service was on its way to receive a group of around 50 kidnapped people with dual citizenship. An agreement could be reached within hours if no new obstacles arise, he said.
Terrorists in the name of Hamas, which governs 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 other people were forcibly taken to the Gaza Strip, including several Germans.
A mother and her daughter were unexpectedly released on Friday. Qatar brokered the release of the two US citizens.