Hamas Releases Two More Hostages Amid Israel Warnings
On Monday night, Hamas releases two more hostages amid Israeli warnings, they had been holding in Gaza since October 7.
Author:Paula M. GrahamReviewer:Hajra ShannonOct 25, 20237K Shares184.5K Views
On Monday night, Hamas releases two more hostages amid Israeli warnings, they had been holding in Gaza since October 7.
Hamas kidnapped Nirut Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz, two elderly Israeli women, from their homes in Kibbutz Nir Oz and transported them by helicopter to the Ichilov hospital in Tel Aviv for medical care.
They were brought to the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt days following the release of Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan, both American citizens.
They remain hospitalized, although official Israeli sources report that their condition has improved. The husbands of the rescued ladies, Amiram Cooper, 84, and Oded Lifshitz, 83, are among the at least 220 people currently being held captive by Hamas in Gaza.
Hamas Claims As Humanitarian Act
Hamas claimed in a statement that the release of the two Israeli ladies was a humanitarian act.
Hamas' armed wing said that the two women had been released due to "compelling humanitarian reasons," thanks to mediation by Qatar and Egypt.
Several news outlets have reported that Hamas may free a further 50 captives soon. They stated that officials from the Red Cross were on route to Gaza to rescue the captives who had dual citizenship.
According to Israeli media, Hamas is trying to rehabilitate its reputation in the eyes of the world community by releasing the prisoners.
Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, now based in Qatar, had his first interview to Western media outlets since October 7, during which he implied that the group would free all civilian prisoners provided Israel ceased its onslaught on Gaza.
He also said that captive release was impossible as long as Israel's air war was ongoing. He claimed that they are pleading with al Qassam to stop the bombings so that the Red Cross or other humanitarian organizations can rescue them.
Israel Military Releases Footages Of Hostages
At a strategic Israel military facility, the Israeli Intelligence Community screened exclusive raw video to the international press.
Israel is using this film, which was gathered mostly from security cameras and the GoPro bodycams of Hamas militants, to counter what it calls "Holocaust-like denials" of Hamas's atrocities in southern Israel.
The images and footage depicted the execution of Israeli civilians, including their murder, torture, and beheading. A recording of a phone call indicates that a Hamas member phoned his family in Gaza using a phone seized from an Israeli.
Israel has repeatedly postponed the start of a ground incursion into Gaza. However, the political leadership has not yet given the army the go-ahead.
The Israeli military said on Monday that it had executed over 300 fresh attacks in 24 hours, while the health ministry in Gaza reported that the dead toll in the Strip had risen to over 5,000. Over 2,000 children are included in the death toll, the government said.
Friend and close supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Aryeh Deri, gave an explanation for the hold up. He said that Israel required more time to formulate a comprehensive strategy for overthrowing Hamas in Gaza since it had never done it before.
US Extenting Diplomatic Support For Israeel
Diplomatically, the United States has been working toward Tuesday's monthly meeting of the United Nations Security Council by continuing to advocate for a resolution denouncing Hamas' assaults and supporting Israel's right to self-defense.
An early version of the resolution calls for an immediate release of all captives, adherence to international law on the conduct of war and the protection of civilians, stepped-up measures to avert a conflagration, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Vice President Joe Biden has said that a ceasefire in Gaza cannot be discussed until all Israeli captives taken by Hamas on October 7 are returned.
“„We should have those hostages released and then we can talk.- Vice President Joe Biden
Final Words
More than 200 hostages are said to be held prisoner in Gaza, perhaps under the maze of Hamas tunnels excavated beneath the coastal strip. With the hostages' liberation, the total number of liberated detainees rises to four.
They were brought to the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt days following the release of Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan, both American citizens.
They remain hospitalized, although official Israeli sources report that their condition has improved. The husbands of the rescued ladies, Amiram Cooper, 84, and Oded Lifshitz, 83, are among the at least 220 people currently being held captive by Hamas in Gaza.
Paula M. Graham
Author
Hajra Shannon
Reviewer
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