Hamas has released two US hostages who were abducted during the Palestinian group’s deadly raid on Israel this month.
Israel confirmed they had received mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan from Hamas at the Gaza boundary.
The pair were freed for “humanitarian reasons”, Hamas said.
US President Joe Biden said he was overjoyed at their release and confirmed he had spoken with the Raanans on the phone.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Brig Gen Gal Hirsch, together with members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), received the two hostages from Hamas at the boundary of the Palestinian enclave on Friday evening, said the Israeli prime minister’s office.
Natalie’s half-brother, Ben Raanan, told the BBC he felt an “overwhelming sense of gratitude to the large community of people around the world who have put my sister at the forefront of their thoughts, of their prayers, of all religions and all beliefs”.
At a Friday night vigil in Evanston for the hostages held by Hamas, a close friend of Judith, Yehudis Hecht, said their lives had been “turned into a nightmare” when they heard the two had been taken.
A Hamas spokesman, Abu Ubaida, said the mother and daughter had been released “for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless”.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker released a statement saying: “I cannot wait to welcome them back home after demonstrating immense strength and bravery in the face of unthinkable terror.”
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement: “We will continue our dialogue with both the Israelis and Hamas, and we hope these efforts will lead to the release of all civilian hostages from every nationality.”
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