Hamas released two elderly hostages on Monday, increasing the total to four individuals set free . The Palestinian militant organization announced the release of Nurit Cooper and Yochved Lifshitz, with confirmation from the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Their release follows the liberation of two American hostages last Friday. Over the course of more than two weeks since the onset of the conflict initiated by Hamas against Israel, more than 1,400 people have been reported killed, and over 200 hostages have been taken.
Health authorities in Gaza have reported that more than 5,000 people have lost their lives since the conflict began on October 7th, involving the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel. Additionally, over 15,000 individuals have been injured, according to these authorities. Please note that CNBC could not independently verify these numbers.
The Israel Defense Forces announced on Monday that their soldiers were engaged in various training exercises aimed at enhancing their readiness and capabilities for potential ground operations in the Gaza Strip.
Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Jonathan Conricus suggested that a complete surrender by Hamas and the return of Israeli hostages could bring an end to the war in the Gaza Strip. He mentioned this in an interview with ABC Radio Melbourne.
Two Israeli women who were captured and subsequently freed by Hamas landed in Tel Aviv, Israel early Tuesday.
An Israeli military helicopter carrying Nurit Cooper, 79, and Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, arrived on the rooftop of Ichilov hospital, according to Reuters footage. individuals set free
One of them was seen in a wheelchair while the other was carried out on a stretcher.
The military wing of Hamas said in a statement on Telegram that the women were released for “compelling humanitarian” reasons. The Israel Defense Forces has previously said the militant group is “trying to present itself as a humanitarian organization to the world” by releasing hostages.
Hamas militants massacred 1,400 people, including babies, women and elderly, and kidnapped more than 200 people from Israel in their Oct. 7 rampage. Little is known about their well-being and whereabouts.