Two hostages from the Islamist movement Hamas were released in Gaza on Monday evening, joining two American women released from captivity on Friday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said.
“We facilitated the release of two more hostages by transporting them out of Gaza this evening”the ICRC said on social network X, emphasizing its “role as a neutral intermediary.”
‘We hope they return to their loved ones soon’the Geneva-based organization added, without giving any indication of the hostages’ identities.
The ICRC statement came shortly after Hamas announced the release of two hostages.
The ICRC indicated on Monday evening that it had happened again “ready to facilitate any future release”.
Hamas’s attack on Israeli territory on October 7 left more than 1,400 dead, mostly civilians, and 222 hostages, prompting strong Israeli retaliation.
This Monday, the Israeli army and Palestinian fighters will enter the 17th day of the war, continuing incessant airstrikes by Israeli forces on the enclave and the launching of projectiles into Israel by Palestinian militias.
According to local authorities, more than 5,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip, including more than 2,000 children, more than 1,100 women and 217 elderly people.
Last Friday, ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger reminded that hostages must be able to receive humanitarian aid and medical care while in captivity.
“They should be given the opportunity to contact their families. Families separated from their loved ones suffer regardless of which side they are on.”he said in a statement.
The ICRC has been present in Israel and the occupied territories since 1967 and visits Israeli and Palestinian detention centers.
In response to the Hamas attack, Israel declared war on Hamas, a movement that has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007 and is classified as terrorist by the European Union and the United States. Israel bombed several of the group’s infrastructures in the Gaza Strip and imposed a total siege on the territory, cutting off water, fuel and electricity supplies.
The Rafah terminal, in southern Gaza and the only border crossing into Egypt, will allow humanitarian aid to reach Palestinian territory.
The conflict has already caused thousands of deaths and injuries in both areas, among military personnel and civilians.
Source: DN
