2023-10-23 22:09:47
(CNN) – On Monday, the spokesman for the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the “efforts” that led to the release of two hostages released by the Hamas movement.
The spokesman said, in a statement on behalf of the Special Envoy for Abductees and Missing Persons: “The Israeli army and security forces have worked hard in the past few days, through all channels, to release the two hostages (Nurit Cooper and Yoshved Lifshitz) and overcome the many difficulties set by Hamas.”
He added, “The two hostages were transferred to a medical center in Israel, where their family members are waiting.” He continued, “We thank Egypt for its assistance, and the Red Cross for its important role as lifesavers.”
The statement stated: “The government, army and security establishment in Israel will continue to work with all their efforts and efforts to locate all missing persons and return all kidnapped persons to their homes.”
Hamas announced that it had released the two hostages, after Qatari and Egyptian mediation, according to Israeli officials and other sources familiar with the matter, according to CNN.
The movement’s spokesman, Abu Ubaida, said in a statement: “The enemy (has) been refusing to receive them since last Friday. We have decided to release them for compelling humanitarian and health reasons.”
On Sunday, Israel said it would not respond to Hamas’ claims that it was “ready” to release two additional hostages, describing this as “false propaganda.”
On Friday, Hamas released the two American hostages, Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Raanan.
For his part, US President Joe Biden, on Monday, called on Hamas to release all hostages held in Gaza before discussing the possibility of reaching a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza.
When pressed by a White House reporter on whether the White House supported a ceasefire in exchange for the release of the hostages, Biden said: “We should have a ceasefire,” before correcting himself and saying: “Not a ceasefire; Release these hostages, and then we can talk.”
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