Hamas has released two elderly Israeli women who were seized on October 7th when some 2,000 gunmen stormed across the Gaza-Israel border, killing about 1,400 people and abducting more than 200.
The release marked the second time in four days that Hamas, the militant group that governs Gaza, freed hostages taken in the October 7th attack, after the release of an American mother and daughter on Friday. It again described the move as a humanitarian gesture.
Yocheved Lifshitz (85) and Nurit Cooper (80) were both abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, close to the Gaza border. The husbands of both women remain in Hamas captivity.
Israeli officials said they were not party to the Egyptian-led negotiations that led to the women’s release.
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Earlier on Monday, Israeli media had reported that some 50 hostages with dual nationality held by Hamas may be released soon amid intensive negotiations brokered by Qatar and the US. The Wall Street Journal reported that plan was scuttled by Israel’s refusal to allow fuel to be included in the transfer of aid to Gaza.
[ EU edges towards call for humanitarian pause in Gaza bombardmentOpens in new window ]
Israel continued its intensive air strikes on Monday on Gaza, where deaths are soaring and civilians are trapped in harrowing conditions. The Palestinian health ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, reported that more than 5,000 people, including in excess of 2,000 children, have been killed in the strikes launched in the wake of the Hamas attack.
As the humanitarian crisis worsened, a third convoy bringing much-needed aid crossed via Egypt’s Rafah crossing on Monday, bringing food, water and medicine. Israel says no fuel will be allowed to enter, fearing it will reach Hamas. Israel has also said the relief effort will be halted if any of the supplies reach Hamas. Aid groups warned that the supplies were insufficient to combat the “catastrophic” humanitarian situation in Gaza, while the Palestine Red Crescent Society described the relief effort as a “drop in the ocean”.
The ongoing contacts over the hostages appeared to be the primary reason holding up the anticipated Israeli ground offensive into Gaza. It remains to be seen if the failure of the attempts to clinch a larger hostage release will now prompt Israel to order troops into the besieged enclave.
Israel updated to 222 on Monday the number of hostages being held in captivity, including toddlers, children, women and elderly, many of them foreign nationals.
