Two female hostages released by Hamas arrive at Egypt's Rafah crossing: State media
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The militant group said they had been freed with Egyptian and Qatari mediation for “compelling humanitarian” reasons.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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CAIRO – Two elderly female captives released by Hamas have arrived at the Egyptian Rafah Crossing, the state news agency said late on Monday.
“Egypt’s efforts have succeeded in releasing two females from the Gaza Strip,” the agency said.
The militant group said they had been freed with Egyptian and Qatari mediation for “compelling humanitarian” reasons.
Two American women, a mother and daughter, were freed on Friday.
Israel on Monday increased the number of hostages it has confirmed to 222 people seized when Hamas gunmen crossed the border
Some 1,400 people were killed in the worst attack ever to hit Israel, according to the Israeli authorities.
Israel launched an immediate war on Hamas and more than 5,000 people have since been killed in its air attacks on Gaza,
Hamas accused Israel of having initially refused to accept the two latest hostages to be released.
It also said Israel had violated arrangements for the release “that had been agreed with the mediators”.
United States President Joe Biden said on Monday that any discussions about a Gaza ceasefire could only take place if Hamas frees all hostages seized from Israel in its Oct 7 attack.
“We should have those hostages released, and then we can talk,” Mr Biden said at a White House event when asked if he would support a “hostages-for-ceasefire” deal. REUTERS, AFP
