The International Committee of the Red Cross has confirmed that Hamas has released two more hostages after it intervened on Monday.
The Red Cross on its X handle, said it facilitated the release of two more hostages, saying it is transporting them out of Gaza this evening.
“We facilitated the release of 2 more hostages, transporting them out of #Gaza this evening.
“Our role as a neutral intermediary makes this work possible & we are ready to facilitate any future release. We hope that they will soon be back with their loved ones,” it tweeted.
An Israeli government official confirms to the CBS that the names of the hostages are Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz.
It brings the total number of hostages released by Hamas to four. Two American-Israelis, mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan, were released from captivity on Friday.
In its latest estimate, Israel says that more than 200 hostages are being held by Hamas after its surprise attack on Israel on 7 October
Earlier, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the blast at Gaza’s Al Ahli hospital last week was likely caused by a missile fired from within Gaza.
Hamas blamed the incident on an Israeli strike, but Israel said a misfiring Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket from within Gaza was responsible
The Hamas-run health ministry said the blast killed 471 people while Israel put the figure at “several dozen”
More than 1,400 Israelis were killed when Hamas attacked communities near Gaza on 7 October, shooting civilians dead in their homes, in the streets and at a music festival
Gaza’s health ministry says more than 5,000 people have been killed since Israel began bombing the territory in response, flattening entire neighbourhoods
