Two more Israeli hostages released from inside Gaza

Two elderly Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas in a deal The Independent understands was brokered by Qatar and Egypt.

The terror group named the two detainees as Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and Nurit Yitzhak, 79, both kidnapped from the same kibbutz – Nir Oz – near the border with Gaza on 7 October.

Both women are elderly and in need of medical care. Their husbands, who were taken with them, remain in Gaza.

Mrs Lifshitz’s husband Oded is a peace activist and retired journalist who would drive Palestinians who needed medical treatment from Gaza to hospitals in East Jerusalem, his daughter and London resident Sharone told Reuters.

Mrs Yitzhak, who also goes by the name Nurit Cooper, was abducted with her husband Amiram.

The grandson of Mrs Lifshitz, Daniel Lifshitz, confirmed to reporters in Eilat that his family had been formally notified that his grandmother had been released along with a fellow member of the Nir Oz kibbutz.

“We are truly hoping that this is just the beginning of the release of all the remaining hostages,” he said. Asked what he would say to her, Lifshitz said: “That I love her.”

The International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed that two hostages had been released, while Egyptian state media reported that the released pair were at Rafah crossing with Egypt on Monday evening.

The ICRC said: “We facilitated the release of two more hostages, transporting them out of Gaza this evening. Our 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.”

Abu Ubaida, spokesman for the armed wing of the militant group, said on Telegram on Monday it had secured the release of the detainees “despite [Israel’s] refusal to accept them since last Friday and their neglect of the issue of our prisoners”.

“We decided to release them for humanitarian and poor health grounds … Despite that, the enemy refused to receive them last Friday,” the statement added.

It follows the release of two American-Israel citizens – Judith Raanan, 59, and Natalie Raanan, 17, a mother and daughter, on Friday, two weeks after Hamas abducted hundreds of people in a bloody rampage on multiple towns and villages on 7 October.

More than 1,400 Israelis were killed in the onslaught.The Israeli military said that in total they know of 212 people, including children, the elderly, the infirm and foreign nationals, that had been taken captive to Gaza.

There are still between 100 and 200 people missing who may also be hostage. Monday’s hostage release amid reports from that Israeli TV network i24 that a total of 50 dual-national hostages would be released in a deal negotiated with Qatar, that may involve a ceasefire.

Israeli officials declined to comment about the reports of 50 hostages being released.

The Independent asked US President Joe Biden about whether the US would support hostage ceasefire deal.

Mr Biden replied “First release the hostages, then we can talk”. The US has reportedly advised Israel to delay an expected ground invasion to allow more time to negotiate the release of hostages taken by Hamas.

Sources within the Israeli government told The Independent they are adamant in their call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and that there would be no ceasefire on the table.

“Anyone candidly and genuinely concerned with human life should demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. We can not comment further,” another Israeli source said.

It comes as Israel stepped up its bombardment of Gaza, where the death toll was surging, as the humanitarian crisis worsened amid a total siege imposed by Israel, which UN experts said amounts to collective punishment and is a violation of international law.

Israeli air strikes have killed more than 5,000 Palestinians, including some 2,000 minors and about 1,100 women, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. That includes the disputed toll from an explosion at a hospital last week.

The toll has climbed rapidly in recent days, with the ministry reporting 436 additional deaths in just the last 24 hours. The UN has also warned that many more will die from thirst, water borne diseases and preventable illness as clean water, food, medical supplies and fuel run out amid Israel’s total siege.

So far only 34 trucks of food, water and medical have been permitted to enter Gaza since the blockade was imposed, and Israel has blocked the transfer of fuel.

The UN said its distribution of aid would grind to a halt within days when it can no longer fuel its lorries.

Gaza hospitals are struggling to keep generators running to power life-saving medical equipment and incubators for premature babies as well as dialysis patients and those on life-support machines.

Cross border exchanges of fire with Lebanese militant group Hezbollah have also surged in recent days, sparking fears the war in Gaza could spark a wider regional conflict.