Two Israeli Hostages Released by Hamas, More Releases Expected
NEW DELHI, Oct 24: Hamas released two elderly Israeli hostages on late Monday evening days after the Palestinian group freed two American nationals.
Hamas released Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz citing “compelling humanitarian” reasons, after mediation by Qatar and Egypt. A video released by Hamas shows the moment the two elderly hostages were handed to the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Before moving ahead, one of the released women turned back to shake the hand of a masked operative. She was also heard greeting him with a ‘shalom’. They were airlifted to an Israeli hospital from there to be reunited with family Tuesday
On Friday, Hamas, while releasing two Americans Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan, had said it was working with Qatar and Egypt to free its “civilian” hostages, in a sign that more releases could follow.
Israel says the Hamas operatives seized 222 hostages in the worst attack in the nation’s 75-year history. Many of the captives have medical conditions that need care or are elderly, meaning time is of the essence. Several reports have claimed that Hamas might release 50 more hostages over the next couple of days.
US President Joe Biden on Monday said any discussions about a Gaza ceasefire could only take place if Hamas frees all hostages captured from Israel in its October 7 attack. “We should have those hostages released and then we can talk,” Biden said at a White House event when asked if he would support a “hostages-for-ceasefire” deal.
Hamas stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, and killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot or burnt to death on the first day of the raid. Since then, more than 5,000 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed across the Gaza Strip in relentless Israeli bombardments in retaliation for the attacks by the Palestinian group.
(Manas Dasgupta)
