On Monday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas announced the release of two more women captives kidnapped in the Gaza Strip by Israel during the October 7 attacks.
Following mediation by Qatar and Egypt, the Islamist group’s military branch stated in a statement that the two had been released for “compelling humanitarian” grounds.
There was no instant confirmation from Israeli authorities, but Israeli media reported that the ladies were carried to the Gaza-Egypt border crossing at Rafah.
Two American women, a mother and daughter, were freed on Friday.
Israel reported 222 captives taken by Hamas terrorists who crossed the border and targeted kibbutz communities, cities, and military sites in southern Israel on Monday.
According to Israeli police, the biggest attack ever to strike Israel killed 1,400 people.
According to the Gaza health ministry, more than 5,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s air raids on Gaza since it declared war on Hamas.
Hamas accused Israel of first refusing to accept the release of the two most recent hostages.
It further claimed that Israel had broken the terms of the release “as agreed with the mediators.”