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 have been released to the Red Cross, sources briefed on the matter told CNBC.
The women, said to be in their 80s, were kidnapped from the Kibbutz Nir Oz, with their husbands still in captivity under Hamas, The Jerusalem Post reports.
The terrorist group said on its Telegram channel that it was releasing them for “compelling humanitarian” reasons.
Abu Ubaiba, a military spokesman from Al-Qassam Brigades that operates in the West Bank, claimed Hamas was willingly releasing the two women despite Israel’s refusal to stop its airstrikes against the terrorist group.
“We have decided to release them for compelling humanitarian and satisfactory reasons despite the occupation committing more than 8 violations of the procedures that were agreed upon with the mediator brothers that the occupation would adhere to during this day to complete the handover process,” the spokesman said on Telegram.
Images broadcast on Egyptian TV showed Lifshitz and Cooper lying down on stretchers in ambulances as they were evaluated by medics.
The hostages were identified as Nurit Cooper, left, and Yochved Lifshitz.
The terrorist group said on its Telegram channel that it was releasing the elderly hostages for “compelling humanitarian” reasons.
The release of the duo comes as sources in Gaza say about 50 more hostages with dual citizenships will be released to the Red Cross later today, i24 News reports.
The transfer will allegedly take place in the Khan Yunis area just south of the Gaza Strip, with the hostages’ freedom secured by additional negotiations through Qatar, the outlet reports.
In an interview with Haaretz, Lifshitz’s grandson said that the family is “happy and satisfied with the official announcement” about her return and that he is hopeful that it is “just the beginning of what’s to come.”
“We are looking forward to their release and that of the other hostages from our kibbutz and in general,” the grandson, Daniel Lifshitz, said. “We hope she is okay. We are going to see her now.
Lifshitz was kidnapped from the Kibbutz Nir Oz, with her husband still in captivity under Hamas. Al Qahera News/Handout via REUTERS
Oded and Yocheved Lifshitz, from Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Israeli Embassy in KenyaIsrael has yet to comment on the new releases after slamming the prospect of Yitzhak and Lifshitz 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 terrorist 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, which may include at least 10 US citizens who remain missing since Hamas’ attack on OCt. 7.
Hamas released two hostages to the Red Cross on Monday. AFP via Getty Images“We do want to see all of 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 imperative that Hamas release all its hostages before negotiations for a ceasefire could begin.
“We should have those hostages released and then we can talk,” he said.
Hamas has about 222 hostages detained in Gaza, according to new estimates from the Israeli Defence Forces.
