Hamas Releases 2 US Hostages for 'Humanitarian Reasons'

There are multiple reports revealing that two US nationals held hostage by Hamas have been released "for humanitarian reasons."

According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the Israeli officials identified the liberated hostages as a mother and daughter duo named Judith and Natalie Raanan of Evanston, Illinois.

However, the identities of the released hostages are yet to be verified and confirmed by Washington officials.

It was reported that the two women were released by Hamas to the Red Cross, but Red Cross officials did not immediately respond to reporters' requests for comment.

"The families headquarters congratulates the release of hostages from Hamas captivity," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a message it distributed to reporters on WhatsApp. "The continued holding of hostages is a war crime. Hundreds of families await the assistance of leaders of Arab states after Hamas' actions shocked the entire world."

Two of the hostages, mother and daughter Yehudit Tai and Natali Shoshana Raanan were released by the Hamas terror organization and were transferred to the Israeli border via the Red Cross.

They are on their way to an army base in central Israel were their families are anxiously… pic.twitter.com/S4WZKUlE2h
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 20, 2023

Hamas Release the Hostages for 'Humanitarian Reasons'

A Hamas spokesman also told reporters on a Telegram account that the Raanans were released because of Judith's alleged poor health.

"In response to Qatari efforts, Al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons," Hamas said, "and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless."

It is unclear whether the women would leave Gaza for Egypt or Israel.

The White House is yet to comment on the development, but a diplomatic source with knowledge of the arrangements told CNN that the release of the two Americans was "hopefully the start of more to come."

This followed NBC News' report last week that Hamas had expressed the willingness to release the civilian hostages they have, particularly women and children.

However, Hamas also acknowledged that they do not have all of the hostages, as another aligned militant group called Palestinian Islamic Jihad has taken some of them.

This is a developing story. Please follow HNGN for more updates.