The Hamas armed wing has said it released two captives held in Gaza after Qatari and Egyptian mediation.
The International Committee of the Red Cross says it facilitated the two captives’ release and transport out of Gaza, adding that it is “ready to facilitate any future release”.
Hamas, announced that the brigades had released the detainees "Nurit Yitzhak" and "Yohfud Levitzitz" through Egyptian and Qatari mediation for humanitarian reasons after Israel had previously refused to accept them.
Hamas added that the release of the detainees on Monday evening was due to humanitarian and health reasons, despite Israel committing more than 8 violations of the procedures agreed upon with the mediators for the release of the detainees.
The official Egyptian news agency reported late on Monday that two elderly detainees released by the al-Qassam Brigades had arrived at the Egyptian Rafah crossing.
The agency stated that Egyptian efforts had succeeded in securing the release of two women from Gaza.
Israeli media reported that the released women were in their 80s and residents of Nirim in the Gaza envelope area.
Released captives’ grandson welcomes her return
Daniel Lifshitz, the grandson of released captive Yocheved Lifshitz, has told The Times of Israel that his grandmother is in Egypt and should cross into Israel soon.
“We simply hope she’s OK, that her health is good, and we’re waiting to see her,” he told the Israeli news outlet.
He added that he and his family are “excited and happy” that his grandmother “is coming back to us”.
