Israel confirmed that Hamas delivered two hostages named Nurit Cooper and Yochavid Lifshitz, out of 222 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, to the International Committee of the Red Cross at the Rafah crossing on Monday night. According to the Jerusalem Post, these women, both in their eighties, were released after 20 trucks of humanitarian aid entered Gaza; while Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas, stated, 'We decided to release them for humanitarian and medical reasons.' Meanwhile, the Times cited an Israeli military official indicating that Qatar is actively involved in mediating negotiations for the release of about 50 hostages with foreign passports. The release of these hostages is separate from those who are Israeli citizens. Shortly after, the Wall Street Journal reported that negotiations for the release of a group of 50 hostages in Gaza failed because Hamas conditioned their release on the provision of fuel for the Gaza Strip, which Israel opposed due to Hamas's use of fuel for launching rockets into Israel. Hours earlier, Voice of America reported that Abu Obeida claimed Hamas wanted to release these two hostages, but Israel refused to accept them. Following this claim, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated it would not respond to 'Hamas's propaganda lies.' U.S. President Joe Biden stated on Monday that any discussion of a ceasefire in Gaza is only possible if Hamas releases all hostages taken from Israel during the October 7 attack. According to The Hill, Biden, in response to a question about whether he supports a 'hostage release for a ceasefire' agreement, said, 'We need to get those hostages released, and then we can talk.' Farhad Poladi from the White House - John Kirby stated that the U.S. will not leave Iran's movements in the region unanswered. Some Palestinians in Jerusalem express their views on the war to Voice of America reporters. A statement from the Israeli government and army raises the question: Is there a disagreement regarding the war with Hamas? Amir-Abdollahian's claim amid tensions: The U.S. asked us to exercise restraint; the U.S.: We are ready for a decisive response. Biden: Any discussion about a ceasefire in Gaza is only possible after the release of hostages.
Confirmation of the Release of Two More Hostages; Hamas Released Two Israeli Women
Hamas released two elderly Israeli women hostages as part of ongoing negotiations, while discussions for the release of 50 other hostages have stalled due to conditions set by Hamas. U.S. President Biden emphasized that a ceasefire can only occur if all hostages are released, highlighting the complex dynamics of the conflict.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Hamas released two elderly Israeli women hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross at the Rafah crossing. This release is part of ongoing negotiations, while talks for the release of other hostages have stalled.
- The release occurred after humanitarian aid entered Gaza.
- Negotiations for other hostages are complicated by Hamas's demands for fuel.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has escalated since the October 7 attacks, leading to a complex humanitarian and diplomatic crisis.
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