Palestinian freedom fighters Hamas has released two U.S. hostages – a mother and her daughter – “for humanitarian reasons” in response to Qatari mediation efforts, Hamas armed wing spokesman Abu Ubaida said in a statement Friday.
Hamas also said the two were released “to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by [President Joe] Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless.”
The two released are a woman and her daughter. The Red Cross reportedly has recieved the pair.
Gaza’s ruler Hamas said Friday its armed wing has released two American hostages, from around 200 captives abducted in attacks by the militant group in Israel on October 7.
“In response to Qatari efforts, (Ezzedine) al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons,” Hamas said in a statement posted on Telegram.
According to a report, Hamas’ armed wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, has released two U.S. hostages from Gaza – a mother and her daughter – “for humanitarian reasons” in response to Qatari mediation efforts in the war with Israel, its spokesman Abu Ubaida said on Friday.
Hamas says it took about 200 hostages during a deadly Oct. 7 rampage carried out from the Gaza Strip on communities and military bases in southern Israel, part of the biggest attack on the country since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.
Hamas said 50 more are held by other armed groups in the enclave. It said more than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli air strikes, but has not given any further details.
Abu Ubaida said they released the citizens “for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by (President Joe) Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless.”
The Israeli military said earlier Friday that most of those abducted to Gaza were still alive.
So far, Israel has launch a relentless bombardment that has killed at least 4,137 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
It amassed tanks and troops near the perimeter of the enclave for an expected ground invasion, calling on Palestinians to evacuate the north of Gaza, where it says Hamas is dug in.
Israel has also said that there will be no end to its full blockade of the enclave unless Israeli hostages are freed.
Hamas’ armed wing said on Oct. 16 that kidnapped non-Israelis were “guests” who would be released “when circumstances on the ground allow.”
Hamas has suggested the hostages could be swapped for 6,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons but Israel is unlikely to agree to that while it is on a war footing.
Hamas has released a video of Mia Schem, a 21-year-old French-Israeli woman captured at a dance party. In the video, she was shown in an unknown location being treated for an injury to her arm by an unidentified medical worker.
In 2011, Israel swapped hundreds of Palestinian prisoners to win the release of one Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, who was held for five years.
American and British officials have confirmed they have been working with Qatar to secure the release of hostages, including their citizens, held in Gaza.
