Hamas releases two women held hostage after Egyptian-Qatari diplomacy

#Palestine

#Gaza

#Israel

Two women held captive by Hamas in Gaza have been released, according to the Palestinian group and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

A spokesperson for the armed wing of Hamas said the two captives were released following mediation from Qatar and Egypt. In a statement on Monday, spokesperson Abu

Obeida said on the group's Telegram channel that

the captives had been released for "humanitarian reasons and poor health grounds." The release of the two hostages, 85-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz and 79-year-old Nurit Cooper

was confirmed by the ICRC. "We hope they will soon be back with their loved ones," it said on X, formerly Twitter.