Israel confirms two more hostages released from Gaza
A video from the al-Qassam Brigades – Hamas’s military arm – shows the moment when the civilian hostages Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz were released on Monday, following Egyptian-Qatari mediation efforts.
The two elderly women are seen being delivered, in the dark, to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Israel has confirmed the release of the elderly women, Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz, but says their husbands are still being held.
Ms Lifshitz’s daughter says she remains focused on securing the release of her father and the other hostages who remain in Gaza.
It brings the total number of hostages released by Hamas to four. Two American-Israelis, mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan, were released from captivity on Friday.
The International Committee of the Red Cross says it facilitated the transfer of the hostages.
In its latest estimate, Israel says that more than 200 hostages are being held by Hamas after its surprise attack on Israel on 7 October.
Earlier, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the blast at Gaza’s Al Ahli hospital last week was likely caused by a missile fired from within Gaza.
Hamas blamed the incident on an Israeli strike, but Israel said a misfiring Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket from within Gaza was responsible.
The Hamas-run health ministry said the blast killed 471 people while Israel put the figure at “several dozen.”
More than 1,400 Israelis were killed when Hamas attacked communities near Gaza on 7 October, shooting civilians dead in their homes, in the streets and at a music festival.
Gaza’s health ministry says more than 5,000 people have been killed since Israel began bombing the territory in response, flattening entire neighbourhoods.
Source: Ghana News
