BREAKING: Two Israeli Hostages Yocheved Lifshitz And Nurit Cooper Released By #Hamas [PHOTO/VIDEO]—-The International Red Cross has confirmed the release of two more hostages 85-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz and 79-year-old Nurit Cooper held by Hamas.
This brings to four the number of hostages released since Friday.
Red Cross also confirmed that the released hostages have been transported out of Gaza.
“We’ve now had confirmation from the International Red Cross that they helped to facilitate the release of two more hostages held by Hamas and transported them out of Gaza this evening.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the humanitarian group add that their “role as a neutral intermediary makes this work possible and we are ready to facilitate any future release”.
“We hope that they will soon be back with their loved ones.”
Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, had announced on its Telegram channel the release of two more hostages, Nurit Yitzhak and Yocheved Lifshitz, through Egyptian-Qatari mediation.
At the moment these reports remain unconfirmed, but Hamas also accuses “the enemy” – in other words Israel – of refusing since Friday to receive them.
“We decided to release them on humanitarian and health grounds,” it adds.
On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the offer “Hamas propaganda lies”.
This latest announcement, if confirmed, brings the total number of freed hostages so far to four out of the current known total of 222. Two American-Israelis, mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan, were released from captivity on Friday.
Earlier, there were reports that as many as 50 foreign and dual nationals could be freed through Qatari mediation.
A source briefed on the talks denied that leak but said the “talks are ongoing about a full civilian release but no breakthrough yet”. Hamas has spoken of releasing more hostages in exchange for a ceasefire and the entry of more aid into Gaza. Israel has ruled out any ceasefire as it intensifies its military operations.
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.
The Hamas-run health ministry said the blast killed 471 people while Israel put the figure at “several dozen”
Watch the moment below:
