Hamas announces the release of two hostages and Israel says that most of the 200 kidnapped are alive

Anguish remains on both sides of the Gaza Strip two weeks after Hamas attacks on Israel. In Palestine, citizens struggle to survive Israeli attacks and the lack of supplies caused by the total blockade of the Strip.. Food and water are scarce as Gaza remains dark, out of fuel and cut off from the rest of the world.. In Israel, for its part, fear consumes the relatives of those kidnapped, who would be around 203 people.. The Israeli State affirmed on Thursday that most of the hostages captured by Hamas are alive and a day later the terrorist organization announced the release of two of them.

The Israeli Army reported that most of the people kidnapped by Hamas during the attack carried out on October 7 are alive. According to a military spokesman, the number of hostages stands at 203 people and also stated that although “there were bodies that were taken” to Gaza, “the majority of the hostages are alive.”. According to the information released by the Israeli forces, of the total number of kidnapped people, 20 are minors and between 10 and 20 people are over 60 years old.

In a statement, the Israeli Army stated that, “As of today (Friday), there are between 100 and 200 Israelis considered missing persons.”. In comparison, on the first day of the war there were 3,000 people considered missing. This number has decreased dramatically as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed their whereabouts.”. Also among the number of missing are those whose bodies have been transferred to a military base for identification, as well as people whose bodies have not yet been recovered.

Hostage release announcement

During the night of this Friday, Abu Obeida, spokesperson for the Al Qasam Brigades, announced the release of two American hostages – a mother and a daughter – who were captured on October 7.. Their names are Judith and Natalie Raanan and their release marks a before and after in this conflict: they are the first hostages released. Both have American and Israeli nationality and are from Evanston, a town located on the outskirts of Chicago.. They were captured by Hamas militants in the Nahal Oz kibbutz, the same town where Maya Villalobo was found, the Spanish woman who remained missing for several days and whose death was confirmed on October 11.

As indicated by the armed wing of Hamas in a statement, the decision to release the hostages was taken for “humanitarian reasons” and thanks to the mediation of Qatar.. It would be a gesture to “demonstrate to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist Administration are false and unfounded,” the message states.. Furthermore, as a Hamas source explained to Efe, the handover of these hostages “is a clear humanitarian step to demonstrate that our conflict is only with Israel.”

The release of the hostages has been confirmed by a spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. Judith and Natalie were initially transferred to the International Red Cross and were later met by General Hirsch and other Israeli soldiers on the border with Gaza.. Currently, the hostages are on their way to a military base where they will be reunited with their families.