Hamas Releases Two More Hostages On Health Grounds As Israel Steps Up Gaza Strikes

Hamas said it has released two more hostages, as per a Reuters report, adding that they were Israeli women who were freed on health grounds.

A screen grab captured from a video shows Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades "unilaterally" released 2 civilian prisoners in Gaza on October 24, 2023. ( Image Source :Al-Qassam Brigades/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images )

Palestinian militant group Hamas has said that it has released two more hostages on health grounds in response to Egyptian-Qatari mediation efforts, in response to Egyptian-Qatari mediation efforts, reported Reuters quoting sources, adding they were elderly Israeli women. 

"We decided to release them for humanitarian and poor health grounds," Abu Ubaida, spokesman for the armed wing, said in a statement on Telegram. 

The two hostages were named as Nurit Yitzhak and Yocheved Lifshitz, the report added. 

On Friday, the armed wing released an American mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan nearly two weeks after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7 where it escaped with many hostages. 

According to Israel's Channel 12, the third and fourth hostages have been released and their families have been informed. Egypt's state news agency said the two had arrived at the Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt, the report added. 

After the surprise attack, Israel said it had notified 199 families that their members had been taken hostage by Hamas as Tel Aviv continued to pound the Gaza Strip which has killed over 5,000 people so far. 

In the last 24 hours ending Monday, Gaza’s health ministry said 436 people have been killed in the bombardments most in the south of the narrow, densely populated territory, next to which Israeli troops and tanks have massed for a possible ground invasion.

The Israeli military has struck over 320 targets in Gaza in the 24 hours, it said, adding a tunnel housing Hamas fighters dozens of command and lookout posts, and mortar and anti-tank missile launcher positions were targeted. 

With essential supplies running short in Gaza with a population of 2.3 million people, European leaders looked set to follow the United Nations and Arab nations in calling for a "humanitarian pause" in hostilities so aid could reach them.