Israeli officials have confirmed that two American hostages, Judith and Natalie Raanan have been released by Hamas.
The mother and daughter were taken hostage by Hamas at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, in southern Israel, on 7 October.
The BBC quoted a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s office confirming that the two US hostages, mother Judith Raanan and daughter Natalie, were “released from the hands of the terrorist organization Hamas”.
The statement added that Brigadier General Gal Hirsch and other security forces “received them at the border of the Gaza Strip and that at this moment they are on their way to a meeting point at a military base in the centre of the country, where their family members are waiting for them”.
There are still close to 200 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
US President Joe Biden, in a statement said he is “overjoyed,” saying that they would soon be reunited with their family.
He said US citizens held hostage by Hamas since 7 October had “endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days”, adding that they would have the full support of the US government as they “recover and heal”.
Biden thanked both the Qatari and Israel governments for working together to secure their release, and said his government was working “around the clock” to free US citizens taken hostage by Hamas.
“As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world.”
