Hamas‘ armed wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, has released two US hostages from Gaza – a mother and her daughter – “for humanitarian reasons” in response to Qatari mediation efforts in the war with Israel, its spokesman Abu Ubaida said Friday. Israeli and American officials did not immediately confirm or deny the claim. Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the two US hostages were released to the Red Cross.
Hamas says it took about 200 hostages during its October 7 rampage on Israeli towns. Hamas said 50 more are held by other armed groups. It said over 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli air strikes.
Abu Ubaida said they released the citizens to prove to the US people and the world that the claims made by President Biden are “false and baseless”. Hamas didn’t say what Biden claims it was referring to. The US has said 32 Americans were killed in the Hamas attack and 11 are unaccounted for.
Hamas said on October 16 that kidnapped non-Israelis were “guests” who would be released “when circumstances on ground allow”. Hamas has suggested the hostages could be swapped for 6,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.