Hamas said it released two more hostages Monday following negotiations with Qatar and Egypt.
The hostages were identified as Nurit Yitzhak and Yochved Lifshitz, two Israeli citizens who had been released to the Red Cross, sources briefed on the matter told CNBC.
The woman, said to be in her 80s, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, with their husband still in custody under Hamas, The Jerusalem Post reported.
The terrorist group said on its Telegram channel that it released them on “compelling humanitarian” grounds.
Abu Ubaiba, a military spokesman from the Al-Qassam Brigades operating in the West Bank, claimed that Hamas was willing to release the two women despite Israel’s refusal to stop its airstrikes against the terrorist group.
“We have decided to release them on humanitarian and satisfactory grounds even though the occupation has committed more than 8 violations of the procedures that have been agreed with the mediators that the occupation will follow today to complete the handover process,” the spokesman said. he said on Telegram.
Images broadcast on Egyptian TV showed Lifshitz and Cooper lying on a stretcher in an ambulance as they were assessed by doctors.
The hostages were identified as Nurit Cooper, left, and Yochved Lifshitz. The terror group said on its Telegram channel that it released the elderly hostages on “compelling humanitarian” grounds.
The release of the two comes as sources in Gaza say about 50 more hostages with dual citizenship will be released to the Red Cross later today, i24 News reported.
The transfer will allegedly take place in the Khan Yunis area of the southern Gaza Strip, with the hostages’ freedom guaranteed through additional negotiations through Qatar, the outlet reported.
In an interview with Haaretz, Lifshitz’s grandson said that the family was “happy and satisfied with the official announcement” of his return and that he hoped it was “just the beginning of what is to come.”
“We look forward to their release and the other hostages from our kibbutz and in general,” said the boy’s grandson, Daniel Lifshitz. “We hope he is healthy. We will see him now.
Lifshitz kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, with her husband still in custody under Hamas. Al Qahera News/Handout via REUTERS Oded and Yocheved Lifshitz, from Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Embassy of Israel in Kenya
Israel has yet to comment on the new release after slamming the prospect of Yitzhak and Lifshitz’s freedom as “lying propaganda” from Hamas to try and delay the Jewish State’s looming invasion of Gaza.
The two women are the latest hostages released by Hamas after the terror group freed American mother-and-daughter Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Raanan last week.
State Department spokesman Matt Miller declined to comment Monday on America’s specific role in negotiating the release of the hostages, who may include at least 10 US citizens still missing since the Hamas attack on OCt. 7.
Hamas released two hostages to the Red Cross on Monday.AFP via Getty Images
“We want to see 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 important for Hamas to release all its hostages before negotiations for a ceasefire could begin.
“We should free the hostage and then we can talk,” he said.
Hamas has about 222 hostages held in Gaza, according to new estimates from the Israel Defense Forces.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
