Hamas released two American hostages out of approximately 200 captives who were abducted in attacks by the militant group in Israel on October 7. The hostages, a mother and her daughter named Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Shoshana Raanan, were freed for humanitarian reasons as a result of Qatari efforts. Israel has confirmed their release, and they are now in the country.
The Israeli military said earlier Friday that most of those abducted to Gaza were still alive.
“The majority of the hostages are alive. There were also dead bodies that were taken… to the Gaza Strip,” an army statement said.
The military said more than 20 hostages were minors, while between 10 and 20 were over the age of 60.
There are also between 100 and 200 people considered missing since the Hamas attacks, the army added.
On October 7, the Palestinian militant group carried out a deadly assault on Israel, the worst in the country’s 75-year history, killing more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials.
Israel has responded with a relentless bombardment that has killed at least 4,137 people in the Gaza Strip, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
