For the first time since the outbreak of war between Hamas and Israel, the Palestinian armed movement released two hostages. It’s about two Americans from Chicago, a woman and her daughter. Hamas announced the news earlier in the evening, saying it had released them for humanitarian reasons. The Israeli government has just confirmed their release.

It is said that the release of prisoners from the Gaza Strip took place after Qatari mediation. They were handed over to the International Red Cross. They were then handed over to the Israeli army on the border with Israel. They are now on their way to a military base in Israel. There they are reunited with family members.

Hamas took the two women hostage on October 7 at Kibbutz Nahal Oz in southern Israel. Nahal Oz is close to the Gaza Strip.

Since the war began on October 7, Hamas says it has taken about 250 hostages, both Israelis and foreigners. The Israeli army takes 203 hostages.